The Real Meaning of Easter

Happy Easter everyone,

Millions of Christians (Christ-followers) around the world are celebrating Easter today. For Christians Easter is not about the easter bunny or easter eggs or any such tradition. Instead it's about the risen Savior: the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ.

The Message Bible puts it the following way:

Luke 24

Looking for the Living One in a Cemetery

1-3 At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus.

4-8 They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" Then they remembered Jesus' words.

9-11 They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn't believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.

12 But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that's all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

I love the way The Message translation (above) puts it: "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" Then they remembered Jesus' words.

It's the real message, the real story, behind Easter: the death, burial (and most importantly), the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

The New Living Translation puts it this way:

Luke 24

The Resurrection

1 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

The New Living Translation puts it slightly different, but it's the same core message: “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

It's all about Jesus today, The Risen One, The Living One, The Son of the Living God, The Savior: Jesus Christ!

Praise God!

MJ

Spiritual Sunday Everyone

Hey,

It's Sunday (here in Belize), the traditional day of worship, at least if you are Christian. Whatever your religious/spiritual beliefs, I invite you to spend at least part of the day focused on connection with your spiritual man.

Being a Christian (a believer in/follower of Jesus Christ) I am looking forward to going to church today to spend some time with fellow believers in/followers of Jesus Christ. I feel that it is vitally important that we spend time together in a place of worship with other people of like faith (spiritual/religious beliefs).

My intention is not to offend any one with this post, but simply to encourage Christians and non-Christians alike that regardless of your faith (spiritual/religious beliefs) take some time today to connect with your spirituality.

That said, connection with one's spiritualityy should not be just a 'Sunday thing' (or whatever your 'day of worship' is), but rather it should be a daily activity. So today, whatever your faith (spiritual/religious beliefs) I encourage you to spend some time connecting with your spirituality.

God bless...

MJ