A Divine Perspective

by Tim Howard 

In two weeks Christians everywhere and Churches throughout the world will remember the crucifixion of Christ and on Sunday, April 1 they will celebrate His resurrection – And that’s not an April fools joke! Some may describe that era 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.

When Jesus was crucified, He was put in a tomb. But when some women came to the tomb – The stone was rolled away! According to Luke 2:26 they were told: “He is not here, but has risen.”

Dying is not something people enjoy thinking or talking about.  When death comes knocking on a person’s door, he or she is more apt to resist it with tremendous vigor or deny it altogether – rather than openly embrace it with hope.  Even the Apostle Peter when Jesus told His disciples that He would soon be crucified – He vehemently refused to accept the truth.  We are told that he actually took Jesus aside and rebuked Him.  He emphatically declared: “this will NEVER happen to you!”

From a passage in Matthew 16, we discover that Peter didn’t fully understand the significance of Christ’s death and only viewed things from a human point of view. Peter focused on the pain, sorrow, hurt, misery and injustice, but he didn’t see Christ’s death from God’s vantage point. There is, however, a divine perspective!

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. 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.

 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 their sin but will receive an eternal inheritance as well. 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.

As you celebrate the Easter season, God wants to give you a divine perspective and help you see from his vantage point.  Those who are receptive will see more than a man dying on a cross and listen to stories about His resurrection.

They will see a Savior who lived among us, died for us and walks with us to help us live life to it’s fullest.