Easter 2020 is very different for all of us. Although we still have hot cross buns and Easter eggs there are things that are just not the same. We can’t get together with family and friends to celebrate. There are no trips away and we can’t join together at Church for Easter celebrations.
So this Easter I thought I would share with you what Easter means to me.
As a Christian I believe Easter speaks of the incredible love that God has for me and for all of us, no matter who we are or where we are from.
God loves me so much that He gave his son, Jesus to die for my sins. I know for most people, me included, that is a pretty gruesome thing to think about. Crucifixion is a horrible way to die and Jesus wasn’t the only one ever to die this way. Thousands of people have died on crosses through the centuries. But Jesus died on a cross to carry my sin on his shoulders and pay the price for every wrong thing I have ever done or ever will do. Resurrection Sunday we celebrate that Jesus conquered sin and death so I can be free from sin and live eternally with Him in heaven.
Lots of people believe that faith and Church are all about working hard to be good and feeling guilt when we don’t measure up. But Easter shows me that that is not true. Jesus paid the price for my sin. He did the hard work. He didn’t have to. He could have chosen to walk away but he chose to sacrifice himself so that I no longer have to carry the burden of my sin.
God didn’t stand there telling me to measure up before He showed his love for me. He did all the work and I get all the reward! I do not have to work hard at being good every day and beat myself up when I mess up. And boy, do I mess up. I am definitely not a perfect person. No one is. But I know that I am forgiven. Believing in Jesus is not about feeling guilty, it’s about the freedom I have from guilt and shame because Jesus died for me.
And because I know how much God loves me, I just want to believe in Him and love him back. That means I do things that I know make him happy. But I also know every time I mess up, he is always there, always loving me, forgiving me and guiding me.
Easter is all about how much God loves me. But it isn’t just for me. It is for you too.
For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son so whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16,17
God loves you today and He sent Jesus to die for you too! He has paid the price for your sins and only asks you believe in Him and accept his gift of love today!
Happy Easter!