EASTER
April 15, 2019
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, Thank You for dying for me. I want to live this day remembering all You did for me. Amen.
Scripture: “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30 NIV
As we come together this Easter week, we celebrate the empty tomb. We rejoice that on the third day Christ had risen from death just as He had told His disciples He would. His return changed the world and it changed my life and yours. We can be so focused on the victory of His resurrection that we overlook the torturous events leading up to and during His crucifixion. He endured the pain of being handed over by a trusted friend and betrayed with a kiss. He endured the pain from the crowd calling out for His death sentence and the release of a criminal. He was beaten and flogged almost to the point of death. He withstood the piercing pain as the crown of thorns was pressed around His head and heard the heartbreaking tears and wailing from those who loved Him and had followed Him. I cannot imagine the agony of the nails being driven into His feet and wrists. Many insulted Him. They cast lots for His clothes and as darkness covered the sun, His last taste of this earth was sour as they lifted the wine vinegar to His lips. There are so many sweet and powerful lessons in these last hours of Christ.
Today, just focus on Christ’s last words, “It is finished.” All that had needed to be done for God to extend His grace to believers in Christ was fully completed. God’s anger had been satisfied. The purest lamb, without blemish, the sacrificed Son of God hung on a cross and opened the gates of heaven up for all who would believe and call Him Lord. Nothing more needed to be added. We cannot add to or take away anything from Christ’s life, death and resurrection. It was finished right at that moment. Thank you Jesus.
Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email [email protected]