Happy Easter

I can only imagine what it must have been like to have lived in Israel during the days that Jesus Christ walked the Earth.

On one hand, I think it would have been fascinating to hear Him preach in parables and see Him perform miracles. That said, it must have been terrible to witness His public arrest, persecution, torture — and finally His crucifixion. Can you imagine being there during what followed?

Matthew 26: 45-54 (King James Version = KJV) reads:

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

The three days that followed would have been a strange time as well. Some people would have been glad Jesus was dead. Some would be in deep mourning and confused, even Jesus' disciples. Others might not have known what to think.

And then, on the third day, He arose.

Matthew 28: 1-10 (KJV) reads:

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All Hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

It would have been incredible to see Jesus, the risen Savior. Can you imagine listening to Him speak and viewing His ascension to Heaven?

Luke 24: 49-53 (KJV) reads:

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

But here's something to consider: When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit into this world. Through believing on the name of Jesus Christ, we can be saved. That Spirit can enter us, dwell with us, comfort us, and give us the power to resist sin and temptation.

John 14: 9-21 (KJV) reads:

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

We can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what Easter is all about. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice to pay for the sins of everyone who has ever lived or will live in the future. He wants to offer us an eternal future with Him, first on Earth and then in Heaven with God, the angels, and all those who have believed on His name and persevered.

All he wants is for us to believe and trust Him.

John 3: 16-17 (KJV) reads:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Happy Easter.

2 Comments

Ellie - 5 years ago

A beautiful blog post, Allen! Did you take that sunset/sunrise photo? CHRIST IS RISEN, INDEED! :)

Allen Steadham - 5 years ago

Thanks, Ellie! I’m glad you enjoyed the blog.

I can’t take credit for the photo, though. I found it on Pixabay. But I thought it worked well for this blog entry. It is beautiful.

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