SACRED CELEBRATIONS

This weekend we Christians celebrate the two most sacred days on our faith calendar, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. 

This Friday is Good Friday, the day on which we remember the death of Jesus. 

This Sunday is Easter Sunday, the day on which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

The events of these two days change everything for us.

We believe that Jesus died according to the express will and purpose of God.  Jesus did for mankind what we could never do for ourselves – He kept God’s law – perfectly.  Because He did so, He could become the spotless Lamb, the sacrificial Lamb, the One who would become sin for us.  He is the fulfillment of the substitutionary picture portrayed in the Old Testament sacrificial system.

Jesus, the Son of God, the sinless one, came as a man to die as a man, willingly giving up His own life, to become my sin bearer and yours.  We deserved death for sin, but He took our sin upon Himself on the cross so that we might be forgiven.  His death made eternal life possible. His death made possible a close intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe. 

But that wasn’t all.  Just days later, Jesus rose from the dead.  For believers in Jesus, this is glorious good news!  Jesus not only died for our sins, He rose in new life!  His resurrection makes our resurrection possible.

In 1 Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul says this of the resurrection:

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins. . . If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”

Recently, I had an opportunity to attend a workshop where clergy from a variety of faiths spoke about end of life issues.  I listened attentively as they talked about what we who ministered to patients at the end of their lives needed to know about how to treat those who were dying in accordance with their faith practices.

Many of them spoke of the rituals necessary for the dying:

·        Prayers which needed to be prayed

·        Certain Psalms which needed to be read

·        Bodies needed cleansing and/or anointing

Only clergy or people especially trained could perform the final acts.

Some of the clergy made no mention of a resurrection.

I felt sad that there seemed to be no hope for the dying. 

But for those who know Jesus, there is HOPE!  Death holds no fear. 

Oh, to be sure, many of us are afraid of what comes before death!  Will it hold pain, loss of mental acuity?  Will it be tragic?  But because of the resurrection, we do know that death is the entrance to heaven.  Death is the doorway through which we meet Jesus face to face!  Getting there might hold some fear, but a certain hope lies on the other side!

The Apostle Paul gives encouragement about this when he says:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory!  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

When we have confidence in a resurrection, there is great reason to celebrate!

Jesus was victorious over death!  For believers in Jesus death holds no sting because eternal life in the presence of Jesus waits on the other side!

No ritual will get you there.  No absence of ritual will keep you out.

Belief in Jesus, who died for your sin and rose again so that you might be declared righteous before God – is the ONLY requirement for heaven. 

I don’t need to DO anything but receive what He’s done for me as a gift! 

Ephesians 2:8:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

By God’s grace, Jesus did for me what I could NEVER do, make myself righteous before God.  All anyone needs to do is reach out a hand and receive the salvation He offers.

Will YOU?

IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone! Who took on flesh Fulness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones he came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied - For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave he rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine - Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.