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| Photo courtesy of Robert O'Toole |
Times are tough for all of us! There is no question about it - no matter your station in life at this given time, things are tough!!
Everyone is struggling!
In this wonderful time of Passover and especially Easter, the words Hope and Renewal take on even greater meaning and weight.
These words symbolize exactly what I believe we are supposed to take away from the story of Jesus and Easter!
Living in a world of violence and attack, especially when times get tough and everyone is battling for survival, we tend to focus on the Crucifixion as the central point of the Easter story.
Jesus is captured, unjustly accused and sentenced to the most brutal of deaths imaginable. The brutality that He endured is beyond the pale of imagination.
However, what we must focus upon is the TRUE message of Easter -- the Resurrection!!!
THIS is what Easter is --- it is the Rising of Jesus from the dead on the third day - having been brutally murdered and enduring unearthly suffering.
Hope and Renewal! His rising gave all who believed in Him HOPE and it led to a RENEWAL in Spirit, in life, in purpose and in our destinies!
As a result of this Rising - Jesus has given us all the ability to RENEW our minds, our thoughts, and to take control of our lives -- TODAY! And because God gave Him over to endure this suffering, thankfully we do not have to undergo the trials and anguish that He experienced FOR US!
One of the most poignant and amazing parts of the Easter story for me occurs in the Garden of Gethsemenae. Judas has betrayed Jesus to the Roman Soldiers and they are about to take him away to be tried and eventually crucified.
In the words of Matthew:
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.
50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.”6 Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
We all can put ourselves in Peter's (the one who drew his sword to protect Jesus) place as human beings and feel the blood boiling, and adrenaline flowing. I know I may have done the same thing in protection of one that I loved. But imagine the restraint and the message that Jesus delivered at that point, in essence "Do you not think my Father would save me at the slightest request if indeed the lesson was for me to be saved?"
Jesus knew what had to occur and the lessons that would flow from His suffering those next few days still reign and permeate our daily lives to this very day -- Hope and Renewal!!!
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to Hope and to the Renewal of your spirit - it is His job and he awaits the simple request! It is no more difficult than to simply ask!
Happy Easter all -- please enjoy your lives, your friends and families, and do not take for granted all that we have been given by our Lord!
Stay Strong!!!
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