Hallelujah, What A Savior!
By Bruce Cannon
Mitchell County
I love everything about Easter! What a tremendous demonstration of the love of God! Paul stated in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” How amazing! How wonderful!
As I think about all that took place during those few days my mind goes to the tremendous intercessory prayer Jesus prayed. Just hours before His arrest our Lord was praying for us. Check out these main points to the prayer:
- First, He prayed for Himself:
That the Father would receive Him back into Heaven, and restore the glory He had before the world began. (John 17:4-5).
- Then He prayed for His Disciples:
That the Father would protect, guide, and be with them as they delivered His message. (John 17:18).
- Then he prayed for all Christians:
He prayed for each child of God to have the same unity as exists between He and the Father. A unity, which allows for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and oneness with God, (John 17:20-21).
Shortly after the prayer, Jesus is arrested, nailed to the tree, and left there until dead: the Innocent suffering for the guilty. Again, how amazing! Near the point of death, He said with a loud voice, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Salvation had been made possible! The Lamb paid the price!
Upon His death, Heaven and Earth were shaken with violent earthquakes, and the earth was covered with darkness. People who had previously died were seen walking about, and the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. (Matt 27:51). Having accepted the payment His Son made for sin, the Father tore the veil which made possible our coming to His Throne of Grace. Thank You, Jesus, for making it possible for me to do so!
Jesus had executed the mission given Him by His Father, and in doing so had opened the “Kingdom of Heaven” to all who would receive Him. He was the new Passover Lamb. Never again would there be a need for animal sacrifice. The Lamb of God had shed His blood once and for all!
And then comes the morning! I love this part of the Resurrection Story! Mary had gotten up early to visit the grave of Jesus, but to her surprise, the body of Jesus was missing. In His place were angels, real angels, and they said to her, “He is not here, He is risen.” (Matt 28:6). Surely the words of the angels at the empty tomb, “He is not here, but is risen,” are among the most significant words ever spoken, (Luke 24:6),
What do His death, burial, and resurrection mean? No longer does mankind need to be separated from God. We can be forgiven, accepted in the beloved, and declared righteous all because of Him!
How Satan tried to stop this! From Jesus’ birth, all through His ministry and even to the Cross Satan tried to keep this from happening. But God….!
The chief priests and Pharisees had tried to stop the inevitable, but neither Roman soldiers, government seals, nor large stones could prevent the King of Kings and Lord of Lords from accomplishing His mission!
Jesus is the true message of Easter, and Because Of Him mankind can have a relationship with their Creator, and be with Him for eternity. Easter brings hope, new beginnings, and Eternal Life, made possible by the One who loved us enough to die in our place, Jesus Christ.
For much of the world, Easter is only a tradition celebrated by colored Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny. To the Followers of Christ, the true message of Easter proclaims the greatest act of love known to man. God’s infinite love for mankind is the true message of Easter, a love that will continue into Eternity.
Amen! Do you see why I love Easter so? From my heart to yours…Happy Easter!
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Reverend Bruce Cannon currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church in Bakersville. Formerly he served as Director of Missions for the Bladen Baptist Association and he has served on the General Board of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
You can read more Good Christian News from Pastor Cannon HERE.
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