Easter Reflections

    Easter is a sign of spring, and people think of fluffy bunnies, little chicks, candy and delicious Easter lunch. Though these things are cute and fun they are not why we celebrate Easter. Many of you know this story but today I am going to share it anyways, in faith that it will reach someone who needs to see it.

This is a simplified story that tells all the main points. Ifound it here.

Arrival to Jerusalem

   Jesus and his disciples were going to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. When they were almost there he sent two friends to get a donkey for him. He rode into town and as people saw Jesus coming they covered the path with their garments and palm leaves. They shouted “Hosanna” and “Jesus Is the king.”

Betrayal

   The priest in Jerusalem did not like him, or that ordinary people liked him so much. They wanted a reason to kill him. Secretly one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas, went to the priest and told them that he would betray him. They gave him 30 pieces of silver, and Judas waited to find get him in trouble.

The Last Supper

   Jesus sat with his 12 disciples for dinner that evening and told them that the next day he would go and be with his father in heaven.  They told him that they would not let anything happen to him.  He replied telling them that one of them had already taken money to betray them.  Judas then left.  Jesus told them about the people who did not want him alive, and that the next day he would be arrested and nailed to a cross.

  So they would remember him, he took bread and broke it and said ‘This is my body. Take it and eat it and remember me.’ Then he took a cup of wine and told them that it was his blood. They should drink it and remember him.

Praying at Gethsemane

    Jesus and the disciples went to the Gethsemane garden. Jesus was sad and asked 3 of them to watch over him while he prayed.  As he prayed they fell asleep, then Judas came with many men who had swords to arrest Jesus.            

The Trial

    The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus to be guilty but it was hard to find anything, even though they had people paid to lie to about him. They asked him if he was the Son of God, Jesus replied ‘I am’ and that was enough to arrest him. They took him to the Roman Governor Pilate. The priests had convinced the people free a murderer, Barabbas. Pilate asked what to do with Jesus and the people shouted “Crucify Him!”  Pilate could find no reason to do this but the people continued to call for it so he washed his hands of the innocent man. He then freed Barabbas.

The Journey to Golgotha

    They mocked Jesus by giving him a crown of thorns. As the blood ran down his face he said nothing. They took him and laid a wooden cross on his back. They made him carry the cross out of the city and up the Golgotha hill. On the path some cried for him and some cheered.  Once he was at the top of the hill they nailed him to the cross. A nail in each hand and one through his ankles. The cross was raised, Jesus was between two robbers. One of the robbers was afraid and Jesus comforted him.

Jesus is Crucified

   As Jesus hung on the cross his mother watched, he called to one of the disciples and told him to look after her.  He was ridiculed by many they said “You saved other people, why don’t you save yourself now?”  Darkness fell over at noon and it lasted hours. Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Sadly in the dark, Jesus died.

   When Jesus died the earth shook. Many people became afraid as a soldier said “This was the Son of God.”  Once Pilate said it was ok they took him off the cross and laid him in an empty tomb and sealed it with a large stone.

He is Risen

   Three days later on a Sunday Mary Magdalen went to the tomb of Jesus. She found the stone had been rolled away and the body was gone. She went to tell Peter and John, all they found only burial sheets. As Mary wept she was approached by a man she did not know. She told him that they had taken the Lord away, the man though was Jesus risen.  He told her that it was him, and to go back and tell her friends that she had seen him. As she told them not everyone believed her.  Jesus appeared to the disciples several times.

Jesus Ascended

   Jesus spoke to all the disciples and told them once he was gone they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. He told them to go and share the word of God. Jesus was taken into heaven. Two angels appeared and told his friends not to be sad because one day Jesus would return.

    Isn’t that a heartbreaking amazing story. I know the story and still when I sit at Easter service and the pastor goes into detail about the crucifixion it breaks my heart. My Lord and Savior who I love all my heart had to go through that pain and agony and it was for me!?! It’s just so hard to wrap my head around. Why would he choose to do that, why did God send him for that purpose?  It is because he loves us that much! He wants to be in our lives and communicate with us.

   Now because Jesus paid the price for my sins, when God sees me that day he will only see the purity of Jesus, not my awful sinful self. All I had to do for that amazing grace was to believe that Jesus died for me and rose again and I asked him into my heart and now I, like the disciples, have the Holy Spirit in me.

    Isn’t that incredible? Jesus rose from the dead, he conquered death and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God.  We celebrate Easter because Jesus rose from the dead. 

Why is the resurrection so important?

(Taken from Got Questions)

In1 Corinthians 15, Paul explains in detail the importance of the resurrection of Christ. Some in Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and in this chapter Paul gives six disastrous consequences if there were no resurrection: 1) preaching Christ would be senseless (v. 14); 2) faith in Christ would be useless (v. 14); 3) all the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (v. 15); 4) no one would be redeemed from sin (v. 17); 5) all former believers would have perished (v.18); and 6) Christians would be the most pitiable people on the earth (v. 19). But Christ indeed has risen from the dead and “has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v. 20), assuring that we will follow Him in resurrection.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/resurrection-Christ-important.html#ixzz3WC9Cndex

Have a great Easter!