Happy Easter, Friends!
This week I would like to visit with you about why as Christians we celebrate Easter. Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday is considered Holy Week. Christians reverently consider the last days of Jesus’ life.
Would it surprise you to know I was a CEO Christian for most of my life? CEO stands for Christmas Easter Observer. I identify with CEO’s since most of them believe in God but have left the Church for a variety of reasons. I remember those days. Years of feeling I was left out in some way or left for a longing of something I didn’t yet have. I would work on strengthening my faith for weeks, sometimes months on my own. I didn’t know that my faith in God wasn’t enough to sustain me. Nor did I understand I was missing the community of other faithful followers I now enjoy.
A strong strengthening synergy is felt deep in our souls when we worship God with others. Have you felt it?
You will, when you attend a service this weekend.
I studied the gospels last week. Each told the same story from different viewpoints. A reminder to me as a writer, many can say the same story from different viewpoints using a different voice, allowing God to steer the readers to the one that will speak to them.
I am drawn to the account in Matthew, the Passion Translation. After the last supper, Jesus and the disciples went to the garden called Gethsemane. He had left most at the gate but took Peter, Jacob, and John deeper into the garden with Him. There Jesus told them His heart was heavy and overwhelmed with grief, He felt like He was dying.
I have known deep devastating grief by betrayal from a trusted friend. I felt like a part of me was ripped right out of my body. While I am remembering this, I also remembered I prayed to the Father asking Him to change things.
Jesus prayed in the garden three times. “My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.”
I studied the verses around Matthew 26:39 for several days. I felt it would be out of character for Jesus to ask for a way out. However, I understood He was also human and experienced the same feelings and emotions anyone may facing impending death. I needed to understand what the Bible was trying to say. I read and researched.
The footnote in the Passion translation for Matthew 26:39 states the cup is a metaphor for the horrific agony and suffering Jesus must suffer. That is a big piece of the puzzle. We know, Jesus was already overwhelmed with stress, grief, and agony before he went to pray.
Jesus was praying for strength. Scripture states he was in such anguish while he was praying, he sweated drops of blood. Yes, it is possible. A rare anomaly is known today as hematohidrosis. Stress can build such great tension and pressure in the body that capillaries can burst and blood is lost through skin pores mixed with sweat.
As an old critical care nurse, I find this fascinating. I don’t want to bore you but I do want you to know this condition can cause severe internal bleeding leading to death.
Jesus was not asking God to excuse Him from being the sacrificed Lamb but to keep Him alive so all the prophecies could be fulfilled. He could already feel his body weakening. The Father sent an angel down to minister and strengthen Jesus.
Satan was working double time that night. He knew if Jesus could die before he was pierced on the cross he would win. Satan was doing everything possible to cause Jesus to stumble and die prematurely. After all, Jesus was human, and we all know how weak humans can be.
Jesus remained strong.
I have experienced Satan attaching me. One time the attack was so severe I became violently ill suddenly. Nausea to dry heaves, I barely made it to the bed, my joints hurt, nerves stung and I could barely think. I cried out, “Father God, blessed Jesus, I don’t understand what is happening. I am alone and afraid.” I continued to pray. I could feel the presence of evil.
About thirty minutes from the beginning my doorbell rang. A dear friend stood there with a big smile. As soon as she stepped into the house I felt better.
“I was driving home from church and all of a sudden I thought we should go get ice cream.” She said with a mischievous smile. And we did.
Isn’t it amazing what God can do when we give Him a chance?
Later, we prayed throughout my home asking God to send his warrior angels to help me fight Satan. I verbally asked Satan to leave, reminded him I was a child of God and I didn’t want him near my home.
I can’t imagine what Jesus must have gone through battling Satan as He prepares himself and the disciples for what will come. Horrific is not a strong enough word.
I do know Jesus knew the extent of His purpose while here on earth. God’s Son, sent to seal the new covenant with God and man. Our heavenly Father, who loves us more than we can understand. Jesus understood. He is God, He is human and he loves us enough to give up his life.
One last quick thought. This could not have been easy for God. Can you imagine how He felt while Jesus was on the cross? This is the time that Jesus absorbed all of the sins of the world, past, and future. God is Holy, therefore, He cannot be in the presence of sin. God turned His back on sin but not on His Son.
I believe when Jesus took His last breath the weight of sin was so excessive it suffocated human life from Him. The Holy Son rose to the waiting arms of the Father.
The best part of the story is on the third day Jesus rose from death. The holy Son and the human son reunite as one in everlasting life. Satan lost. The gift to the world then and yet to come is salvation through Jesus the Christ.
Happy Easter, I pray you may understand the Easter story a little better now.
