It's not about the bunny....

Today I've been thinking about Easter and what is truly means to humanity. Easter, that wonderful time of year when spring occurs and flowers are blooming everywhere has nothing to do with a Easter Lilies, or bunnies or dyed Easter eggs or candy baskets or egg hunts, no matter what the secular world wants you to believe.

Easter has to do with one man, Jesus Christ, dying a brutal death of a cross for the sins of the world. He died, was buried and miraculously rose from the dead on the third day. And there in my friends, lies our hope. If we believe in Jesus, repent of our sins and and turn our lives over to him, we get a free pass into heaven. After we die, we can be sitting at the feet of Jesus. How glorious a thought is that?

God himself became flesh and bones so he could endure the pain and torture for all of us. He took the sins and burdens of mankind upon himself on that Cross and he did it willingly. He knew what his purpose was. It was so brutal and I'm sure he didn't want to do it, but he really never wavered. In the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed " “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39.

Garden at Gethesame where Jesus spent many hours in agonizing prayer prior to his Crucifixion

 (photos courtesy of my friend Mary Byerman)

So, why would God send his one and only son Jesus to this earth to die as an atonement for us and our sins? Because God loves us and God is Holy. Holy God cannot exist with sinful man. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, a price had to be paid to reconcile us back to our Holy God and that sacrifice was Jesus Christ dying on that Cross. He was made a sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins. His death was foretold in the Book of Isaiah "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." Isaiah 53:7

                                                              Jesus died for you and me. 

In deeper reflection today I've been thinking about suffering in general. Why does the Lord allow suffering? You may suffer emotionally, mentally, or physically, or you may suffer through a terribly hard time in some period of your life. It's hard to know anyone who hasn't suffered at one time or another throughout the course of their lives. But often people suffer and then it's over for a while.

But for me and my suffering, it has just increased as time has gone by. Being an MS patient with a chronic debilitating, progressive disease, I can tell you that I have my daily challenges with suffering and it has increased as the disease has progressed. MS is definitely not a disease for the faint of heart.

I often wonder why God allowed this disease to overtake me? I was a healthy, vibrant, happy working woman, wife and mother of two young boys when I was stricken. Understandingly, I was searching for answers. I remember clearly my very wise Godly pastor at the time, Brent, telling me  "Nicki, God didn't bring this sickness on upon you, but if you let Him, he can use you through this illness to touch others and bring Glory to Him." Such a wise man! 

And I have tried to do just that. I have to admit as the years have gone by and my mobility has been severely challenged, it has been increasingly difficult. Not being able to drive for about 6 years now, being homebound is very challenging, but now with the invention of email, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, you can reach people around the world you may not have been able to otherwise. Thank you Lord!!

Honestly I have to tell you that I often wonder why I'm still here. I've had many of my MS friends who have passed on, but still I remain. I am just trusting in God's plan, knowing that He knows what he's doing and he must have more work for me to do. I'll just keep plugging along, praising my Lord at every opportunity.

On really bad days, of which there have been quite a few of late, I just keep my eyes extra focused on the Lord. He is my strength. Any suffering I may endure pales in comparison to the suffering my Savior did on that Cross. One verse I cling to that helps me a lot is from James 1:12 " Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." So, I just keep on persevering, trusting in Him.

So my friends, Easter is definitely not about the bunny! It's about one man, Jesus Christ, who came here, lived a blameless life and died at the age of 33 from a brutal senseless death. And He did it for us. He came so that we may have what he has, Eternal life with God. 

He died such a horrible death on Good Friday, but oh friends, what a glory awaits on Resurrection Day! Happy Easter Everyone!

My verses for today are above in red.

My prayer for today:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your son, Thank you for his sacrifice, Where would we be if not for Jesus? He is our hope and light in this world. I pray that everyone that reads this blog might be touched and turn their lives over to you. Help open their eyes Lord to see Jesus for who he is and what he did for us.

Amen and Amen