The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.'” Matthew 28:5
Last Thursday while making a referral to a therapist, he responded since it’s a holiday weekend, I’ll contact the family on Monday. Holiday? What holiday? We were just off Wednesday in honor of Cesar Chavez’s day, so what holiday was coming up? When I looked at the calendar I discovered he was talking about Easter. Technically Easter is NOT a holiday, but as I reflected on the therapist calling it a holiday, I wondered why it isn’t. Why is Easter NOT a holiday? Why is the day that Jesus Christ rose from the grave NOT celebrated as a National holiday? There will NEVER be anyone as loving and as selfless as Jesus Christ, so why isn’t HIS DECISION to die to save you and me not a significant enough event to be considered a holiday? Well, it is to me. Do you think it should be a National holiday? I DO!!! So for this week’s blog, let’s talk SHIP about what HE DECIDED!!!
The events surrounding the resurrection were NOT a surprise. HE knew. The crucifixion of Jesus was GOD’s plan from the very beginning. GOD knew that the sins of mankind would require a sacrifice and HE DECIDED that Jesus was the one to do just that. Jesus understood that HIS life would be required as a sacrifice for the sins of man. HE DECIDED to willingly fulfill that sacrifice. After HIS betrayal, Jesus was beaten and lashed. He wore a crown of thorns on HIS head and was forced to carry HIS cross to the hill where HE would be crucified. HE was nailed through the palms of HIS hands to the cross between two criminals. Using a sword, they pierced HIM in the side. The sky was completely dark for those 3 hours that Jesus hung on the cross. As the crowd continued to mock and torture HIM, HE asked GOD “to forgive them for they know not what they do.” When HE took HIS last breath, the earth shook, the temple curtains split from top to bottom, and the tombs of the saints opened and their bodies were raised from the dead.
But HE wasn’t going to remain dead. Matthew 28, tells us the story of when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, and an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, went to the tomb, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. HE is not here; HE has risen, just as HE said. Come and see the place where HE lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘HE has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see HIM.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” HE said. They came to HIM, clasped HIS feet, and worshiped HIM.
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on the third day after HIS burial following HIS crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary. See Easter is NOT about jelly beans, new clothes, egg hunts, bunnies, or Easter baskets. Although those things are fun and nice, Easter is when we, like the two Mary’s share with our family and friends the true stories of HIS crucifixion and HIS resurrection. Easter is about what HE DECIDED. Easter is about how HE DECIDED NOT to come down from the Cross to save himself but HE DECIDED to die to save you and me. Easter is a time to reminisce about how HE LOVINGLY DECIDED to die so that you and I could live. While looking at the calendar, I realized that there are NO spiritual or religious holidays observed in America and wondered was that the reason for its multitude of problems. It may be, but I believe that what HE DECIDED to do should qualify as a National holiday!!!
He Decided to Die by James Cleveland
When Jesus hung on Calvary, people came from miles to see
They said, If you be the Christ, come down and save your life
But Jesus, sweet Jesus, never answered them
For He knew that Satan was tempting Him
If He had come down from the cross, my soul would still be lost
If He had come down from the cross, my soul would still be lost
He would not come down from the cross just to save himself
HE DECIDED to die just to save me.
NOW that’s a BLESSING!!! Happy Easter
SHIP TALK: Should Easter be a National Holiday?
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and I yours. Thanks for supporting me, Carolyn.
You made me ponder so more to. Excellent dialogue for all of us. I appreciate your thoughts for sure.
Me TOO Lori!!! ME TOO!
NO. I appreciate the perspectives of others. You are right, it may not draw people closer to HIM. I agree and respect your comments. It won’t make us LOVE HIM more. But, the days we acknowledge as holidays and reasons to be celebrated are pale in comparison to the work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I just post what I ponder.
Amen Linda!! There is NO love like it. I just wondered why no religious occurrences are considered a holiday. They celebrate birthdays and man made accomplishment and NOT the greatest sacrifice ever made. Maybe we should see how to make it happen.
Yes, I do believe Easter should be a National Holiday! Christ decided to sacrifice His life, so others could have eternal life! Being a righteous life would have to be sacrificed for man’s sin, and only one is righteous being Christ, there is only one Man of God that could answer that call. Christ decided to sacrifice His life for us, willingly tortured and killed for the price of our sins. There is no greater love than to give your life as a sacrifice for someone, and that should be honored by a National Holiday!
Great Blog. The question becomes, is it a battle that Christ would want us to fight. It reminds me of this The LORD said unto my lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Jesus has been given all authority. If the will of God is to create a Holiday for the crucifixion of Jesus, then by all means. Question becomes, Will it turn us from our wicked ways? Will it lead others to salvation? Gods DNA is in all of us, but there are many that reject him. Will a holiday set the captives free? Im reminded that we are in this world but not off it. The world will not see the Kingdom of God unless they receive Christ and are reborn. I may have gone too deep here. Just my thoughts as I sit and ponder.
So grateful that He decided to stay there until it was FINISHED! Death conquered and eternal life gained! Win, Win!