Easter

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

It dawned upon me, especially after Andrew Reid’s brilliant sermon today that:

Jesus, in very nature God, was born into this sinful earth for me.
Jesus bore the pain of living amongst sin for me.
Jesus was betrayed by his disciples for me.
Jesus was scorned, spat on and flagellated for me.
Jesus laboured up the hill, carrying the cross for me.
Jesus cried and bled, oh not from the pain, but for me.

As for me, what did I do?

I stood at the top of the hill, waited for Jesus to crawl to me. Then along with my friends, I spat on him, cursed him and with bone-splintering force, smashed the nails into his wrist, laughing and mocking all the time. As Jesus hung there, bloody and beaten, he looked at us and said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they’re doing.”

My dear friends, yes, you were with me destroying Jesus. He died for me, just like He died for you. How long more will you harden your hearts? You see, that’s not the end of the story, but rather the beginning of a glorious chapter for those who accept Jesus. He rose again, the slain yet victorious lamb – the only creature in this universe capable for opening the scroll of God.

I urge you, this Easter to commit your lives to your Creator and forever etch your names in the Book of Life.