it's Easter ... prepare for sacrifice

It is Easter week. Many call it holy week as we find ourselves in the middle of the most important week of Jesus’ life.

You know, it really is the most important week of our lives, Spiritually speaking. How do we see God through the paradigm of Easter? Is it possible to follow Christ without understanding or believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus?

We find ourselves in the middle of the week, Wednesday to be exact. Most likely this day was one of rest and preparation for Jesus and those closest to Him. He has been praised. He knows what is coming. His death is only a few days away.

Sitting on His shoulders and firmly planted in the heart of Jesus is the purpose God gave His one and only son. There is more to the story than the words He taught with. There is more to the story than the need of humanity for forgiveness and life.

We began the week as the Christ, celebrated and revered. We will end the week with His being accused and killed as a criminal, beaten and nailed to a brutal death-penalty cross. Both were told about before. Both remind us of our need and His grace.

Hebrews 9:22 NLT

In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Leviticus 9:7 NLT

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering to purify yourself and the people. Then present the offerings of the people to purify them, making them right with the Lord, just as he has commanded.”

John 3:17 NLT

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

That is Jesus. Easter week prepared for the reason Jesus came to earth. He came for us.

With the price of blood our sin debt was paid offering forgiveness for all who fall short.

The sacrifice for sin has been required since the beginning of time. And that sacrifice makes those covered by it right with God.

Jesus is the sent one, the savior of all, gift from God for us.

Take some time today, the middle of Easter week, to focus on Jesus and the sacrifice He is for each of us.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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