What Easter Means to Me

Happy Easter my friends!

I am actually writing this post on Saturday morning as I sit beside a gentle fire on my outside porch. “Gentle fire” being the keywords as our Florida Spring mornings are quickly calling for overhead fans to replace our gulf warmed winter fireplace ambiance. My husband and I moved into this little cottage about this time last year and have loved using our sweet porch fireplace for reading the Sunday Paper and occasional after dinner chats.

As I relaxed by the fireplace this morning, I read through the updated blog post of a few sweet friends. This one by my friend Michelle Cushatt had me particularly spell bound. Michael does that in me. I find her courage during her recent life battles and her faith, inspirational and infectious, not to even mention how I love her writing style! Anyway, in Michelle’s post she uses the words “Jesus went first”. Those words and that truth blew my little fireplace flicker into a roaring blaze in my heart and I decided to follow her lead–“What Easter Means to Me”…(I hope my words inspire you to do the same thing!)

I started to consider just a FEW of the many ways Jesus “went first”, to lead and guide our way.

I thought about how Jesus actually lived the life of a normal everyday man for 33 years. He grew up in a home that started out, as most people knew it, with an unplanned pregnancy. He got up every morning like a normal kid with siblings and chores. He had friends and family reunions and religious holidays. He did everyday life. Jesus went first. (Luke 2:39-40)

I think of how Jesus “went first” at something I try to get better at every day—obeying and following Gods’ promptings in His heart, like the time He turned water into wine. (John 2:1-11)

I thought of how Jesus “went first” in taking chances on trusting God’s provision like the time He fed thousands of hungry people with a small basket of beginnings, or walked on water, or shared Gods’ life plan. (John 6)

I thought of how Jesus “went first” at handling the disappointment of some dear friends over His “lack of” performance as they thought things should be done. Martha, Mary and Lazarus. (John 11:1-44)

I thought of how Jesus “went first” as He struggled with being misunderstood within His community by some people who were well respected and had lots of authority over what others might think of Him as He asked His best friends “who do they SAY I am?” “who do YOU say I am?” (Matt 16:13-19)

I thought about how Jesus “went first” as He pleaded with his very closest friends..”Will YOU REALLY pray for me?” Not just nicely SAY you’ll pray, but REALLY PRAY and intercede for me? (Mark 14:27-41)

Finally, I thought about how Jesus “went first” in blood drenched dread and suffering, to taste a feeling of separation from God, an excruciating and shamefilled death that led to His “Going First” Grand Finale’…RESURRECTION to ETERNAL Life. (Matt 28;  Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20)

What Easter means to me….

Jesus went first, to capture the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to give to ME and to YOU!!! (Mark 14:62)(Matt 16:19) I said “YES” on June 9, 1984. “Yes Lord, I will follow you!”

Let me ask you my dear reader and friend…have you said “YES” to Jesus?

He went first. Are you following Him?

John 3:16The Message (MSG)

16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

If you have not before, today is the day of your salvation!!

It is so very simple to do–get on your knees and say, “Jesus, you went first FOR ME, I am a sinner who needs your saving grace and love, I want to follow you forever. Amen”

With you my friends—In His Eternal Grip–

Happy Easter!

Pat

I would love to hear–What does Easter Mean to You?