This Easter is the first year that I have not celebrated with either family or close friends. Having moved to Atlanta only a few months ago I am still establishing relationships within my church. The plan was to go home but we all know how best laid plans turn out....due to an extremely expensive headlight (why oh why did I have to get the top of the line Maxima) I had to cancel going home for Easter. At first this upset me a little but I know that God has a hand in everything. The lessons He revealed to me this weekend would not have happened if I had been home. By not leaving town I had the extra time to really seek Him.
On Friday I had lunch with a new friend and went with her to volunteer in the Good Friday service. We were like communion warriors! Preparing the elements for two services that night.....over 300 trays of grape juice!!! Then I had the pleasure of serving communion which was a first for me. How humbling to present the elements that remind us of Jesus' sacrifice for us. Standing on the side lines of the sanctuary, the room was filled wall to wall with people. A thought ran across my mind....what if each of us did our part? There is probably about 2,000 people in this room....what if we all listened to our heavenly Father and did what He asked of us. That would make our world a much different place.
The night before Easter I decided to read of the account in Matthew. Funny how at Christmas time we always read the story of Jesus' birth but I can't really ever remember reading about His death before Easter. It breaks my heart to read how he was plotted against, beaten and betrayed. All for a greater purpose. All for us. Easter is a celebration of our Lord's resurrection but this year I was given insight into two other aspects.
First was when Judas decided to betray Jesus in Matthew 26:14-16...
"14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. "
Judas obviously betrayed the trust of Jesus but another definition of betrayal is to disappoint the hopes or expectations of; God has expectations of us and we betray Him time and time again. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. We do the same and for what? For fame, wealth, status, glory, power....what is it that is more important to you than living up to God's expectations.
The second revelation for me comes in Matthew 28: 16-20...
"16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” "
After Jesus had been resurrected he meets up with his disciples. To reveal to them that he was indeed alive but to also give them a commission. He leaves each of us with that commission as well.. I don't know about you but I think it is the least that I can do for all that He has done for me. Christ bore crucifixion and death to pay for all of our sins. As it was prophesied in Isaiah 53: 5 " But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Obedience to Christ should not be out of guilt or duty but out of the love that we have for Him.
