Easter 2011

What a wonderful day to worship our RISEN Savior!  Over the past several weeks, I have been learning and studying about Jesus, salvation and the work of the cross and resurrection...and it has led to a much more worshipful time for me this weekend as I reflect upon the absolute humility of our God, coming to Earth as a baby, raised as a young boy, into a hard working man, and later into ministry.  The insults that were hurled at him along the way, even to the point of false accusation, false trials, and the cruelest of deaths on a cross between two thieves.

Friday night at our Good Friday service, major portions of the book of John were recited as they describe the three "trials" that Jesus went through (I say "trials" because they were not followed by law  and in fact were against the laws of the day.  They were secret trials the should have held no legal authority).  Anyway....during one moment between Pilate and Jesus, Pilate is getting frustrated because he knows that Jesus has done nothing wrong, but he can't find a reason to release him and he (Pilate) says, " You do not speak to me?  Do you not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?"  Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above..."  When I heard, and later read that...it floored me!  Even while standing in mockery, with a crown of thorns and scourges on his back...at any moment he could call down a multitude of angels and completely wipe away any  (or all) of these people.  But he didn't.  He didn't because he knew that in order for man(kind) to be saved, he must be the perfect lamb, the perfect sacrifice for our dreadfully, ugly, awful sins.

Jesus, 100% man, 100% God humbled himself, even at his last hour to be the absolutely perfect, wonderful sacrifice that we could never give.  John 19:30b says, "He said, 'It is finished!" And he bowed his head and gave up His spirit".  He was not killed....his life was not taken from him.  NO, he gave up his spirit freely...as in "handing it over" as an act of his will.  John MacArthur says,"No one took his life from Him, for he voluntarily and willingly gave it up." (check out John 10:17, 18 for more on that)

But, the story isn't over with his death.  Nope...no way.  He rose again, three days later.  He defeated sin and defeated death! "Where O death is your victory? Where o death is your sting?"  It isn't there any more!  His resurrection reminds us that his sacrifice was accepted.  He was perfect.  "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  Did you catch that?  Jesus....who knew NO sin...was perfect, sinless, a spotless lamb....BECAME sin for us SO THAT WE might become the righteousness of God in Him.  We were the ones who deserved to hang upon that tree...yet it was the sinless perfect Christ who did.  And now, if we believe in him, accept his gift of grace, repent and believe....We may become the righteousness of God.  NO one deserves that.  Yet, it is offered, gifted...and that is what we celebrate and why we worship him. 

It is precious to hear my sweet four year old say "Happy Resurrection Day" to everyone she saw at church today.  And precious to hear her say "He is risen" so that I will reply back "He is Risen Indeed" over and over (and over and over) today. 

We did spend the afternoon with family.  It was a very enjoyable and relaxing time.  We had a delicious dinner, yummy dessert and way to may sweets from the Easter baskets.

Want to see some pictures?

Coloring eggs last night.

This is Hannah's "daddy face"

Beautiful little girls

SOOOO excited about their chocolate bunnies

Nathan got a baseball bat and ball.  He carried the bat around all day long.  Yay...he likes baseball!

Fun times with the kiddos (anyone see anything interesting in these pictures?!?!)