When I was praying about this blog post I couldn’t seem to focus. I wondered how can I write something short that would adequately reflect my thoughts about this special week and special Sunday. It took listening to a very familiar song that had its words changed so it was about Easter and Jesus.
I still don’t have a lot to write. But my heart is, as you hear this song and follow the words being sung, it hits you deeply in your heart. Easter, or Resurrection Day as I like to say, is the most important day for our salvation. Why would I say that? Because this whole week is about our forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. It is about the hope we have in Jesus.
Jesus was arrested for loving us. He was tortured for us. He made the way for our salvation , eternal salvation. He forgave us of our sins. He hung on that cross, bleeding and tortured for our forgiveness and redemption. He died so that we can live. Finally, on Easter, he rose from the dead. He left that tomb, leaving it empty, all because He loves us. Forever!
Listen to this song, read the words. I pray it ministers to your heart.
Happy Resurrection Day, and Happy Easter week. May you all be filled with the hope we have in Jesus.
As Easter approaches we are always more mindful about the cross. Jesus having to carry His own cross down that road. And those roads were not smooth and paved. They were rocky, rough, and mostly dirt. This all taking place after He was beaten and tortured. He was bleeding with that HUGE crown of thorns on His head. It wasn’t full of little tiny thorns, but big thick thorns. The cross wasn’t made of thin little sticks or branches. But of a large solid piece of wood. I am not sure if it was any specific wood. Some say cypress, others say a mixture. My point being, Jesus already physically hurting, had to carry heavy wood to the place He would be nailed to it and hung to die.
The cross, we think of Jesus dying for us. But that is one cross. I might add the most important. There were two other crosses. One on each side of Jesus. Folks would say those other two men deserved to die. Jesus did not! I very rarely think of the other two crosses.
There was Jesus, nailed to that cross, slowly dying a very long and painful death. What does He do? He speaks to the other men. Telling them if they just believe and ask forgiveness, they too will be with Him that day in paradise. Jesus was giving them to the very last moment to believe in Him.
The criminals were taunting Him. But towards the end one of the criminals began to believe and respond to Jesus. Jesus told him he was forgiven and would be with Him in paradise forever. The other criminal, let’s just say he won’t be as comfortable like the other forever.
Even to the very last moment of Jesus’s life His love for the lost was unmeasurable. He gave that man every chance. He still denied Jesus.
Every day of my life I ask Jesus to forgive me. I am a sinner until I get to heaven to be with Jesus forever. We are not perfect. We are in the flesh. I know Jesus loves me and wants me with Him in heaven.
”They crucified two criminals with Him, one on His right and one on His left.“
Mark 15:27 HCSB
”Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us! ” But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom! ” And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”“
Luke 23:39-43 HCSB
Let’s take time this Easter season to remember this. It is never too late to accept Jesus as Lord of your life. He gives us all the time we need. Until our last breath. At that point I pray we all have accepted Jesus and believe in Him and His promises to us. After that, it is
I have written many times about perseverance and running the race set before us. But I am passionate about this word from God. It is so vitally important that we persevere, gain strength, focus with our eyes on Jesus, and finish this race Jesus gave us, in victory.
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.“
Hebrews 12:1-2 HCSB
As the Word of God tells us, “ we have a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us.” What does that mean? It means we live in a world that has Christians under a microscope. The world wants to see us fail. They want us to suffer for the works we do for Jesus. Many feel threatened by Christians. Many have no specific reason, except they believe differently from us. And the list goes on. Why do others feel so threatened by us? To me it makes no sense. But the Word tells us we will be persecuted.
That’s very sad. Jesus commands us to love one another. You may ask how can we when they hate us. We can through the power of Christ. We love others, but we do not like the sin. Or we don’t like the persecution. How does this fit into running the race? Our life is part of our race. I have had to fight hard for my health. That is one portion of my race. The next portion, learning to accept those who have done wrong to Christians. They are just some examples. Everyone’s race is different. We have different goals.
But we all must run the race to the finish. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus while running our race. We must persevere and push through no matter how difficult the race gets. Persevere no matter how many times you are mocked. Do not run the race to receive a medal, but run so Jesus receives the glory.
I want to encourage you all. We have our races to run. We come upon stumbling blocks. We may even stumble at times. We may get slowed down, or even veer off course. That’s okay. Jesus knows us, He knows our limitations. That is when we focus on Him more than ever before. He didn’t give us our race to fail. He is right by our side to help us when we need it. Wow, what more can we ask for? Our Lord, our Father, our Teacher, our Coach, running with us and helping us.
My friends I pray that when your race is getting very difficult, you lean on Jesus. Call out to Him for help. And run with your eyes on Him, and your heart focused on the mission He has given you.
He loves you, and me, and even those who condemn us. I pray we all can love others the way Jesus does.
