What does Easter mean to you ? What are the origins, the history of Easter ? The term Easter comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon word " Eastre " apparently , dating from over one thousand years ago ago which was used for "Eostre" the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic pagan goddess of fertility whose festival was celebrated at the spring equinox , hence the tradition of Easter bunnies , baskets, eggs ,and chocolate . Yet Christians have celebrated Easter by commemorating the crucifixion and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ in what is now the most significant holiday in the Christian calendar . Many scholars stress the original relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach , too from which is derived Pasch , another name for Easter, commemorating the time that God spared the Israelite first born children in Exodus when the angel of death passed over .
So why is Good Friday called Good ? What is so good about a carpenter's son enduring the agony and humiliation of dying on a Roman cross ? Let's explore that . We all have to die some day. Let's consider that too . Consider what will happen afterwards . This moment could happen anytime, and will certainly happen one day. Life is short. Are you ready to meet God? Teenagers like Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall who were shot and killed so tragically at Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado earlier in 1999 were ready, and assured of their eternal destiny. Are you? Can you be sure that God will accept You into Heaven for eternity despite your sins? Consider the courage Cassie Bernall showed when asked if she believed in God and she said yes. She died for her faith. Consider the disciples of Jesus who denied they knew Him on Good Friday when he was executed, yet later died for their faith. Why the sudden change, and where did they all get their courage from? Surely The Holy Spirit drew them to God and Christ. He wants to draw you now because He has an awesome plan for you. Will you let Him? Today you can choose Life over Death, Faith over Fear. You don't need to be ruled by what people think of you any longer. You are uniquely special to God, and He has an exciting purpose and a plan for you that only you can fulfil. Jesus Loves You. If you accept His love and His salvation you can have peace and joy even in this life, and go to Heaven to be with Him for eternity no matter what you've done or been in your life up to this point today. It is His Free Gift to You! Whether you receive it and escape the prospect of eternity in Hell is your choice.
Perhaps you've been running from God, and consumed with the things of this world, the things of our short life here on this Earth. Perhaps you're concerned about world events, and fearful. Perhaps you're trying to find happiness through money and your possessions, your partner, your career, a casual affair, alcohol , astrology, or even a false religion. Perhaps you have not been trying to fill the spiritual void in your life at all, but maybe there is an emptiness and a longing in your heart.
How can you get right with God and have peace for your soul and the assurance of eternal life? By being good? Cleaning up your act? Going to church? No.
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14 verse 6. The only way to guarantee that you will go to Heaven when you die, and have security, purpose, genuine inner peace, joy, and happiness in this life is through a personal life changing relationship with Jesus Christ. God gave up His majesty to come down to Earth to be a man and die for YOU personally: the ultimate act of sacrificial love, real love, the kind of love that the original New Testament Greek word for love "agape" means, and all done for you:
When Jesus died on the cross, He shed His precious blood to cover your sins, and give you new life in Him to make you acceptable to God the Father. Jesus rose again triumphantly from the grave on the Third Day defeating every force of sin, evil, darkness, and death forever! That, simply put, is the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, good news for believers, and the only way to Heaven.
Perhaps you need to rededicate your life to Christ. He wants you to surrender all. Perhaps you need to ask Jesus Christ into your life for the first time. Jesus is knocking at your heart right now. Don't wait until tomorrow. There are no guarantees in a life without Christ, except eternal Hell at the end of it if you have rejected the gospel. Who knows what tomorrow may bring. Today is the day to be born again into a new life in Jesus Christ. However much a sinner you've been, you can pray a simple prayer that can ensure your eternal destiny is secure. Jesus takes us where we are at, and then transforms our lives. He doesn't have to wait for you to get "cleaned up" first. That is His love!
