NEW life.

good friday.

Yes. He did die.

Why is it good?
Shall I list the reasons?

- He is God.
- The grave could not hold Him down.
- Through Him, we are given hope of life eternal.

Amen. Blessed day.

- - -

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering, I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless Love.

- - -

no hope.

The point is not that He died, though this was an integral part of His plan.
No, every man dies.
Jesus was fully man and fully God.

The point is rather, that He lives again.

Do you not see?
Have you not heard?

Without His death and resurrection from death unto life --

There is NO HOPE for me.
There is NO HOPE for you.

- - -
Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life --
"FINISHED" the vict'ry cry!
- - -

the most pivotal thing.

So, you know the story inside and out?
I know To Kill a Mockingbird inside and out. Does that count for anything?

It's just a "nice story" but without backing?
First, it's definitely not "nice" -- a brutal beating and death on a cross = never nice.

Here's the thing ...

Without the resurrection of Christ from the dead, my relationship and my faith falls flat.

How could the death of a mere man save you and give eternal life?

What if that man were GOD?

If God could not raise Himself from death, would you follow Him?

Yeah, no. Didn't think so.

Even if you didn't have any knowledge of Scripture, you could understand the ramifications of if He did not rise.

For those of you who are reading with contempt ...

-- "Why Easter? Doesn't she know that this is a pagan holiday?
She should have called it Resurrection Sunday!" --

... may I remind you that Christ uses the foolishness of this world to bring glory to Himself? Nothing is beyond His reach.

It's not the name you use to describe the event. It's what you are focused on that makes the difference to a watching world.

- - -
Soar we now where Christ has lead -- Allelujah!
Following our exalted head -- Allelujah!
Made like Him, like Him we rise -- Allelujah!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies -- Allelujah!
- - -

NEW life.

Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. (Romans 10:8-10)

Simple, beautiful, unique, powerful, DONE.
Nothing that you could come up with on your own would be good enough.

- - -
I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in me thy all in all."

Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I,
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb.
- - -

your choice.

Whether you believe or not is your choice. He has already paid it all -- in full.

You have only to accept or reject His gift.