The Real Easter

The Easter holiday is almost upon us. 

 We love this day because it is the day that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, fulfilled the prophecies of all time that he would atone for all of our sins and be resurrected, thereby freeing us from the bands of death forever.  The trauma and tragedy of the crucifixion is swallowed up by His triumph over death.  The image of the cross is over shadowed by the success of His ministry.

 I've made a little coloring book for children in celebration of this Easter.  If you would like a copy of it, just email me and I'll send it to you by return email in pdf format.

The Last Supper.....what was most important?  The introduction of the Sacrament?

The washing of the feet of the apostles?  All of it was important.  The Savior was bringing his earthly ministry to a close and there was much to teach.

In the garden of Gethsamane he took upon himself all of our sins and intervened for us with the Father to save us from death.  So great was his suffering that he bled from every pore in agony for the wrongs of mankind.

Pilate and Herod found no fault with him and tried to prevent his death.  However the Jews who were there that day were single-minded in killing Jesus Christ and removing him as a threat to their power.   

As he was giving up his life on the cross, he prayed Heavenly Father would forgive those who were killing him.  Imagine a father having to witness the death of his son.  The Father must have withdrawn to the furthest reaches of Heaven, knowing all was in his Son's hands, to give up or to keep.  Thus, the Savior asked, "why has thou forsaken me?"

Three days later, the women found the tomb empty and the newly risen Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene.

He walked the road to Emmaus with two disciples and appeared to more than 500 people in the Holy Land as the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.  He spent 40 days with the apostles, fulfilling his duties of teaching them the administration of His church and the business of the saving of the souls of men.

"Other sheep" he said he had, which he visited after bidding farewell to the apostles.  

He showed to everyone who wished to see, the wounds given to him by his "friends" so that they could touch them and feel of his physical resurrected body.

In his many visits to us on earth as a resurrected being, he never failed to draw the children to him and to bless and heal them, while all the host of Heaven rejoiced and drew near in attendance.

This, to me, is the most important message in the ministry of Jesus Christ:  that he lives, today, and we can feel him near to us as we pray to him and ask for his love....and that he will return to Earth, again, at the close of this dispensation.  Until he comes again, we can commune with him in prayer and feel of his love when the Holy Spirit is near.

 He taught us the form of prayer when he said,

Our Father, which art in Heaven

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day,

Our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

And the glory forever.

Amen

In other words, the order of prayer is as follows:

Address Heavenly Father (Dear Heavenly Father)

Thank him for your blessings

Ask for forgiveness for your sins

Tell Him you forgive others

If needed, ask for something you need or desire

Pray for others who are in need

Tell Him you will accept His will in your life

Ask all things "In the Name of Jesus Christ"

Amen (So be it)

Offer your prayers daily, hourly, perhaps, minute-by-minute.  He longs to hear from His children, us.  Know that God loves you, no matter who you are, no matter how far from Him you have wandered.....

He loves YOU.

From our family to yours, a blessed 

and Happy Easter!