It's Resurrection Weekend (Part I)

It's Resurrection Weekend...He is ALIVE!!!

Today is Good Friday, the beginning of the celebration of Jesus sacrifice at the cross of Calvary. I have chosen not to get into a religious argument over the fact that this, and other "Christian" holidays, are rooted in paganism (and they are). I know that Easter Sunday, which I choose to call, Resurrection Sunday, is based on the worship of the sun (that's why it changes every year). I have had to contend with those facts over the years as I've had to answer many questions from my extremely inquisitive children. I have always given them Truth as an answer, making them well aware of the fact that there is no Easter bunny this time of year nor a Santa Claus coming down the chimney at Christmas.

However, I have also chosen not swing to the other side of the pendulum and throw everything out with the bath watere, although I did try that for a year (didn't work out too well). I have since learned to rest in Him and just do as the word of God says, to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength....EVERYDAY. I have put my religious, Pharisee and Sadducee attitude, on the shelf and decided to celebrate Jesus today, this weekend, and for always.

I choose to celebrate Jesus this weekend because the truth of the matter is, that no matter which day we designate as His birth, His death at Calvary, or His day of resurrection, the fact is that HE WAS born of a virgin (Mary), HE DID live on this earth 33 years, HE WAS baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit DID ASCEND upon HIM like a dove, HE DID do miracles and wonders in the earth, HE  WAS betrayed, HE WAS falsely arrested and falsely accused, HE WAS beaten all night, HE WAS spit on, HE DID wear a crown of thorns upon His head, HE WAS forced to carry His cross to Calvary, HE WAS pierced in His side, HE WAS given vinegar to drink on the cross, HE DID hang on the cross for three hours, HE DID died and was buried in Joseph's tomb, HE DID lay in that tomb for three days, HIS tomb stone WAS rolled away by the Angel of the Lord, HE DID ARISE FROM THE DEAD! HE DID appear to His disciples, HE DID ascend into heaven as they watched, and HE NOW SITS at the right hand of the Father making intercession for US! Hallelujah!!!

Frankly, I don't care which day is really the day that Jesus died or arose. I only care that there was a day and that HE IS ALIVE  this day. If the facts I named above be true (and they are), I will celebrate Him today, tomorrow, Sunday, and for all eternity. Amen and amen. I pray that you will celebrate Him as well, not just this weekend, but everyday. And if you have not given your heart to Him, do so, and do it quickly (time is short). Oh, how He loves YOU and me. 

I will be sharing the last hours of the story of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke today and tomorrow. I want to encourage you to take some time over this weekend and read the full accounts of Jesus from one or all of the Gospels (it's beautiful to see the different perspectives of the disciples and how they related to Jesus). I pray that your Resurrection Weekend is filled with reminders of His great love for YOU!

"By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”And with those words he breathed his last.

When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow.But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law." (Luke 23:44-56) ....cont'd on tomorrow

My Love Song to HIM! Dorothy C.