Promise of Easter

Posted

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Palm Sunday began a week that will hold many things for so many different people. There will be moments when they are overwhelmed with all that is taking place. Then there will be those moments when they will simply be overwhelmed with how much the love of God has touched their lives.

When you look at Scripture you see that from the time Jesus entered Jerusalem to the time He was taken before the priests and Pilate, His desire was to encourage His disciples. He wanted them to stand together and be the disciples that would continue to share His love with one another.

He said in John 15:12-17 – 12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.”

Of course, He moved forward in sharing with them concerning the coming of Holy Spirit in John 16:13-14 – 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

Now I don’t want to assume anything, but Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another then let them know that Holy Spirit was going to come and guide them into all the truth. He wanted His disciples to know that they were going to need each other and would truly need Holy Spirit to direct them.

The truth is that hasn’t changed. We still need each other as we make our way forward. This past Sunday evening the Ministerial Alliance held a Palm Sunday service at Calvary Baptist. The one thing that was so wonderful was how the body of Christ got together and shared the message of Easter through songs. It was truly a time of praise!

Now we continue to move toward Good Friday to remember the day Christ gave His life for us on Calvary. The darkness of that day brings us to a time where Jesus surrendered to what He came to this world to do – give His life for us so that we might have eternal life. He said in John 10:10 -- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Yet as we know the story doesn’t end at the cross. He was placed in a tomb but then He arose three days later. His victory over death gives all people the opportunity to enter into a relationship with Jesus. By asking Jesus to come into your heart and trusting Him to forgive you of your sins, you can have eternal life. That’s the promise of Easter.

JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, there IS something about that name!!

Christ only, always,

Bro. Paul

Brother Paul Nachtigall is the preacher at Highland Baptist Church. He can be reached at bropaul@centramedia.net.