by Douglas V. Gibbs
Happy Easter weekend. While I am posting this on Good Friday, I want to talk about The Resurrection and the Christian Heritage of the United States.
Easter is one of those holidays that everyone enjoys. The kids love the egg hunts and candy, but Easter is not necessarily about bunnies or colored eggs. Easter is about the Resurrection of Jesus. Specifically, the holiday is about Jesus being crucified and risen again from the dead.
I realize that in these troubled times it is sometimes difficult to keep our eyes on the Lord. Easter, however, is one of those days out of the year that many folks who would not normally look to Christ decide to come to church and worship Him. Some folks are full of faith, and are regular attenders, and that is great as well. But for everyone, Easter is an opportunity to remember His Sacrifice.
Death can seem cruel and harsh. We fear death. Death is a mystery to us. But, Someone has died ahead of us. Someone went into the unknown so that when we also go into the darkness, we will emerge on the other side in Paradise.
The beaten, bloodied body of Jesus hanging on a Roman cross on Calvary was the ultimate gift. Jesus had been betrayed by one of His own, denied three times by one of His own, knew that He was going to be crucified, knew that a Roman soldier was going to thrust his spear into His side, yet after having the Last Supper with His disciples he served them in the humblest manner by washing their feet..
During the crucifixion the disciples scattered in fear. When the beating heart of Jesus Christ ceased its activity the disciples felt it was over. They assumed that death was the end of Christ.
Imagine the surprise of the disciples when they found an angel waiting for them with good news. The angel said, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:6 NKJV).
They thought He was dead, yet this angel had proclaimed He Lived.
Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection means that we as believers do not have to be afraid of death. It can be hard for us to accept that our bodies are wearing out, and that death is on the horizon. However, the Bible says we will have new bodies one day. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23 KJV).
You see, our bodies are not who we are. They are simply rotting shells. Our real selves are our souls. Our spirits. Our bodies will eventually give up and die, but our souls will live on.
He is the resurrection and the life, and if we believe in Him, though we were dead, yet shall we live.
Happy Easter, and God Bless.
