by Tim Howard
This coming week is very
significant for the whole world and Christians in particular. Church
families everywhere will remember the crucifixion of Christ and on Sunday,
April 5 they will celebrate His resurrection. All the activities will
seek to recall the event that happened approximately two thousand years
ago. Some may describe the crucifixion of Christ as the best of times and
the worst of times while others may say it was the turning point in human
history. One thing is certain, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
has caused centuries of controversy and a multitude of change.
The Life of Christ was full of
teachings, miracles, words of encouragement and personal ministry, but His
death was the ultimate statement of God’s love. The Bible tells us in John
3:16 that God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son to die on a cross
for our sins. Anyone who believes in Him will not only experience
forgiveness from his or her sin but will receive an eternal inheritance as
well. God is not a respecter of persons and does not show
favoritism. He loves all mankind and has a desire to relate to each
and every individual. No one is exempt from His touch unless they reject
Him.
Jesus didn’t enjoy death and
dying is not something people enjoy thinking or talking about. When death
comes knocking on a person’s door they are more apt to resist it with
tremendous vigor than openly embrace it with a willing acceptance. Even
the Apostle Peter vehemently refused to accept the pending death of Christ when
in Caesarea Philippi. Jesus told His disciples that He would soon be
crucified but Peter actually took Jesus aside and rebuked Him. He
emphatically declared: “this will NEVER happen to you!”
From the response of Jesus to
Peter’s reaction we discover that Peter didn’t fully understand the
significance of Christ’s death and only viewed things from a human point of
view rather than God’s view. Peter focused on the pain, sorrow, hurt,
misery and injustice, but when you see Christ’s death from God’s vantage point
it takes on a totally different look.
God sees His Son’s death and
resurrection as the beginning of something new and not the end of something
old. It marks the end of religious duty and opens the door for authentic relationship
with God. His death was not optional but mandatory. Death doesn’t
have to be the last step on earth but can be the first step into eternity with
God if you put your faith in His Son. There is a future hope beyond this
earthly life and the resurrection of Jesus is God’s gracious evidence to all of
us. It assures us that God turned the sting of death around and what once
produced fear is now conquered by faith.
As you celebrate the Easter
season, God wants to give you His perspective and help you see from His vantage
point. Those who are receptive will see more than a man dying on a cross
and a story about His resurrection.
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