Easter is coming very soon and many people will be pouring into churches to celebrate. What are we actually celebrating? Do we make it all about the Easter bunny and the candy? Don’t get me wrong. I like candy, probably a little too much. As a matter of fact, I even think that Easter candy is better than Halloween candy. Easter candy is the absolute best candy of all time, in my humble opinion, but it is not about the candy. God loves you so much that He sent His son.
John 3:16-17
16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.
17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. NLT
God gave us all the wonderful gift of His son Jesus. Jesus did some amazing miracles while He was on the earth but, to me, the most amazing thing He did was the way He lived His life. Jesus lived a life without sin! Whenever I think about that, I cannot help but think “WOW.” I did not even make it through yesterday, let alone for my whole life. Jesus came and lived a sinless life.
Then He went to the cross to pay for my sins and your sins. Jesus deserved righteousness, but He took our place so His righteousness could be ours. Jesus took what I deserved so I could have what He deserved.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. KJV
God loves us so much that He sent His son. The son loves us so much that He came. Jesus loves us so much that He suffered the pain of the cross to pay for our sins. We all know that the story does not end there because the Easter story is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The week before Easter is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Passion Week and, on Sunday, Jesus came because He had to finish what He started. We all may go through times where we feel unloved or feel like no one cares about us, but my prayer is that you will always remember how much God the Father loves you. Jesus had a hard time dealing with the fact that, in order for Him to go and pay for our sins, He would have to be separated from His father. Jesus did that for us so we would never have to experience being away and separated from God the Father. The Bible encourages us by telling us that God will never leave us or abandon us. I want to thank you, God, for the fact that you love us all so much that you gave your son. Have a great Easter.
Tony Guadagnino is the pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church. 801 SE 10 St., Deerfield Beach, FL, 33441.www.CLFministries.org
