Spring, it's everywhere we look. Nature awakes from a long winter's nap and the miracle of new life is all around us.The greatest miracle of all is the celebration/holiday that most Christians refer to as Resurrection Sunday, the day Jesus Christ, God's precious Son arose out of the grave, conquering sin and death once and for all!Throughout my lifetime, I have heard people ask the question, "Why was this so necessary?" Because of my sins and your sins. God created man in a perfect world, only asking man to love and obey Him. But through temptation and the God given free will, man "chose" to sin. Man no longer walked in perfect harmoney with God, because sin had now entered this perfect world. The Holy and Almighty God could not have fellowship with sin. Romans 6:14 says, "What fellowship can light have with darkness?" Everything about God is perfect, and that includes His "justice". Romans 6:23 says that "the wages of sin is death". So, the price for sin had to be paid. God could have let us pay the eternal price for our own sins, but He had a different plan, and that is where we see another miracle,
The price for sin could not be paid with just any sacrifice, it had to be as God, PERFECT. So God promised a Messiah, a Savior who would redeem the sins of all mankind. Before the coming of the Messiah, God's people showed their faith that God would indeed send a savior, but until then, made burnt offerings and sacrifices as sin offerings. The priests sacrificed lambs, but they must be perfect, without spot or blemish to be acceptable to God.
In God's time, was sent down from the glory of Heaven The Lamb of God, His only son Jesus Christ. The One without spot or blemish who alone could save a sinful world. Born a babe in a lowly stable, this perfect Son of God became man. He grew up, He worked, walked, taught, and performed miracles in His time on earth. But mostly, Jesus LOVED with perfect and pure love! So obedient to His Father in Heaven, and so great was His love for us that the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 "He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." And so, this perfect Lamb of God was condemned to die on a cruel Roman cross. Jesus was abandoned by his friends, endured many legal trials, was beaten, spat on, and disfigured. With a crown of thorns placed upon his precious head, Jesus took the sins of the world upon Him. It is important to remember that even though Jesus was condemned to die, no one took his life, He GAVE it. Matthew 26:53 & 54 says, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" While nailed to the cross in agony, Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". The land around turned to darkness, God the Father turned His head and Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why has Thou forsaken me?" And then He said,
The price for sin had been paid by the spotless Lamb of God. And now we see the miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Matthew 28 says, "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and he sat upon it. His countenance was like lightening and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake and become as dead men. And the angels answered and said unto the women, "Fear not, ye for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here,
Jesus appeared to His followers several times in the days and weeks to follow. God's plan of salvation had been completed. It was now time for Jesus to return to His Father in Heaven. Mark 16:19 says, "Then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God". But, before asending into Heaven, Jesus promised to return someday for those who have loved Him and accepted Him as their savior! Jesus came to us the first time as a suffering Savior, but He will return as a conquering King;
But hey, don't take my word for any of this, see it for yourself in God's infallible word!
On the following page is a collection of poetry that is most appropriate for the season
