The Real Easter - minus eggs and candy!

All one must do to see what the heart of man is really like is look to the behavior of Israel under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Keep in mind the truths of Solomon. “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl 1:9); (Eccl. 4:11)

It is the same today as it was then.

Just as Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans> As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; (Roman3:10)

The depth of which that statement holds true is truly beyond the comprehension of all of us. But again… no better example than the children of Israel whom God wanted to destroy and start over.

“The Lord spoke further to me, saying, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people. Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they,'” (Deut. 9:13-14).

On more than one occasion God wanted to destroy Israel in the wilderness. The constant murmurings, idolatry (prostitution to other gods, and other ideals), and feasts of the flesh enraged Him. Wicked, vile, wretched, and full to overflowing with darkness and evil. Keep in mind this was an issue that prevailed before and after the giving of the law.

But God had a plan.

As frustrating as it may have been, even to God, He had a plan. Through the lineage of failed patriarchs, an adulterous and murder plotting king, and prostitutes came the plan of redemption; for all of mankind, including us today - For the very reason of our own wickedness, wretchedness, and sin. For as scriptures tell us>

They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. (Psalm 14:3);

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath.” A Contemplation of David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good. (Psalm 53:1);

For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. (Ecclesiastes 7:20);

“They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12);

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23);

And… through it all God had a PLAN!

It was and IS – Jesus. It would be through His completed work on the cross that it would be accomplished – FINISHED!

You see God the Father had to make it a COMPLETED and FINISHED work through His Son because… well not much has changed from the days of old. Mankind is still steeped in sin and in need of redemption. In need of a Savior that can save us from hell death and the grave, as well as from ourselves.

Easter is upon us once again and it is NOT about colored eggs, candy, and bunny rabbits unless you’re a pagan worshipper of the fertility goddess Ostara, as suggested by the German writer Jacob Grimm, yes, one and the same “Brothers Grimm” of the Grimm’s fairytales.

NO… It is actually about a rock tomb with a stone rolled across it, and Roman guards that observed the hand of God opening it. It is about a Risen Savior that was seen by Mary Magdalene and a woman that was with her, two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the appearance to the astonished disciples (minus Thomas), then the appearance to Thomas and the allowance of Thomas to touch His wounds due to his unbelief, then the appearance to the disciples the following Sunday, then appearance to seven disciples beside the Sea of Galilee, He then appears to eleven disciples on the mountain in Galilee, then 500 hundred people on a mountain in Galilee, then to His brother James, then appears again to commission the disciples.

It is about a Risen Savior that was, and is, everything He said He is, and accomplished everything He said He would.

It is about a Savior that restored what was lost in the garden… fellowship with the Father.

15 But [a]the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one offense, [b]resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, [c]resulting in justification. 17 For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

18 So then, as through one offense [d]the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness [e]the result was justification of life to all mankind. (Romans 3:15-18, NASB)

His greatest accomplishment… BEING the embodiment of THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.

Close your eyes and hear the words spoken by Jesus to Martha>

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. (The clincher for dramatic effect, for ALL of us to hear and consider!) Do you believe this?”

I ask you today the same question asked of Martha… what do you believe? DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)

Blessings and in His Service,

Yours always in Jesus,

-Brent Hartford