Photo: Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Dear Easter People,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Good news travels fast! … or it should. For example, if anyone were to suddenly find a vaccine or cure for COVID-19, what would they do? My guess is they’d spread the news of this life-giving, life-saving discovery as fast as they could! And imagine the joy this would bring!
As bad as COVID-19 or any other disease is or ever will be, we all face an even more deadly disease. Sin. The infection rate is 100%. Sin isn’t just “bad” … it’s eternally deadly. Untreated, it leaves all mankind permanently separated from God. Permanently evicted from the kingdom of heaven. We’re unable to cure this truly horrible disease on our own. However, if there was such a cure … wouldn’t we run into the world shouting this incredible news!?
And there is good news to shout! God our Father sent His Son Jesus down from heaven to bring us the cure for our sins. To bring this cure required Jesus to pay the ultimate price – death. Our sins nailed Him to the Cross. There He died, bringing us – through His death – the cure for our sin.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary showed up early Sunday morning to see the tomb. When they got to there, it was opened. And an angel of the Lord told them, “I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen from the dead. (Matthew 28:5-6)” Hearing this good news – that Jesus had risen to new life – they immediately ran off to tell everyone!
Because of Jesus’ resurrection, all who believe in Him are cured of sin … we are forgiven all our sins and, what’s more, given the gift of eternal life! What joyful news this is! It’s news “The Mary’s” ran off to share with the world. And having received the same cure – a life-giving, life-saving gift from God – let’s join them! Let’s run into the world shouting the joyful news, “Christ is risen!” for all to hear.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim