Hopefully many of you like me have been preparing for the long Christian holiday of Easter weekend. I found myself watching many movies this past week depicting Jesus’ birth, His ministry, and His death and Resurrection. I also view movies depicting some of the disciples and the history of the children of Israel, including their Kings and Prophets. Tonight, I attended Good Friday services at my church, I have attended many in my life but tonight as I listened to scriptures being read and beautiful music being played I was overcome with questions of why(?) why do we as Christians refer to this day as “good?” Our Savior and our King was beaten, mocked and degraded as something less than human. As I often find things puzzling, I decided to do what I normally do…hit the Internet and search for an answer to my questions. After reading a few explanations, I discovered I was looking at Good Friday from the negative side of things, only the things that occurred on that Friday so many years ago. Absolutely, terrible things happened to Jesus; however, He was fulfilling the prophesies, He willingly submitted Himself to the cruelty of man to Glorify the Father and to take upon Himself the sins of the entire world so that you and I could have life eternal with God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit forever! The “Good” in Good Friday is Jesus was victorious over death, death could not hold Him, He lives and reigns forever and ever!! That’s the “Good” in Good Friday, Hallelujah Jesus was triumphant! This weekend reminds me that no matter how difficult I think my life is at times, it does not compare to the scoffing and cruelty my Jesus endured so that I could have life, life eternal in Heaven with all the Angels, Saints and Believers in Christ Jesus!! Amen and Hallelujah, today and forevermore! Happy Easter!
Mark 16:5-7 (NIV)
“As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
John 3:16-21
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
My favorite Easter song:
Christ Arose
Lyrics:
Low in the grave He lay—
Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day—
Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch His bed—
Jesus, my Savior!
Vainly they seal the dead—
Jesus my Lord!
Death cannot keep his prey—
Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away—
Jesus my Lord!
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/123#ixzz2zIhEgv6m
~Blessings and Peace~
HOPE SEEKER 