Bring it Home (April 2022)

Easter

It is April, and in just a little over two weeks we will celebrate Easter. In our culture we celebrate by dying eggs and hiding them for our children to find, and we tell them an anthropomorphic bunny hid them. Yet, Easter is not about this anymore than Christmas is about Santa Clause. What we as Christians celebrate at Easter is the fulfillment of prophecies given to mankind throughout the Old Testament. We celebrate the conquest of sin and death through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As I consider what it is we are about to celebrate, I feel that there is nothing better I can do to equip you to minister to your family, than to review the Gospel and the purpose of that resurrection with you.
To repair the relationship requires a payment for which mankind does not have the proper currency. Paul tells us in Romans then that the wages of sin, that rebellion, is death. This is not just physical death that we all experience, it is a death that completely separates us from God. Yet, even in that moment of rebellion in Genesis, God had planned to rescue us. All through the Old Testament prophecies about a Messiah, a rescuer are given. Then, as Scripture says, in the fullness of time, God sent that Messiah, born of virgin, to come and restore what had been broken.

That Messiah of course is Jesus Christ. You can read about His life and teachings in the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus came to earth, He is 100% man and 100% God. He lived a perfect life, and willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross paying the price for our rebellion. His death was the transaction that covered the cost, yet He did not stay dead. He rose again three days later, signifying that the payment had been accepted. And thus, it is as Jesus says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

This is what we celebrate. Our whole faith is based on the fact that Jesus is not dead, but alive and well. Because He lives, those of us who follow Him have the hope and promise of eternal life with Him forever. So, this Easter season, I encourage you to take some time and talk about this story and what it means with your student. Or perhaps, if you find it easier, take time to watch and discuss either of the two videos I’ve provided in this post; both of them review what I’ve just shared with you, and both can be great conversation starters.

As I close this month’s post I want to remind you that Jesus has risen, He has risen indeed!

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