- Lorie Hedgepeth
The Message of Easter

33. “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34. Then Jesus said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
(Luke 23:33-34)
1.“Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6. He is not here, but is risen!
(Luke 24:1-6)
These verses describe one of the most horrendous events in human history. No event since creation has changed more lives, healed more hurt and mended more marriages than Jesus’ death and resurrection. The message of Easter offers hope for humanity.
God Loves The Sinner! That word “sinner” is rarely heard these days but, that is how God describes the unbeliever. Romans 5:8 says: “But God commendeth His love towards us in that while were yet sinners (not Christ died for us”. The cross of Christ teaches the unchanging truth that God loves us. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”. (John 3:16). God’s love includes all---the acceptable and the unacceptable, the down and out and the up and in. No amount of sin can diminish His love for us! Hear me today, regardless of what you’ve done or how far down you’ve gone… the Cross says that God loves you.
Sins Can Be Forgiven! A judge may acquit the accused but, only God can give a person total forgiveness. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. There is no need to live under the shackles, the shadow and shame of past sins - Jesus’ blood makes the vilest sinner clean!!
Jesus The Son of God LIVES & REIGNS FOREVER! Jesus is more than a memory. Religious leaders have come and gone. Princes and presidents have lived and died… but, Jesus Lives! Jesus said, “Because I live, you shall live also”. Jesus has conquered death, hell, and the grave. There’s no sinner He can’t save, sickness He can’t heal, problem He can’t solve or person He can’t change. Jesus! the devil couldn’t stop Him, death couldn’t hold Him and the grave couldn’t keep Him. THAT SAME Jesus, loves us with an everlasting love and wants to live in us and through us and give us eternal life.
So, the question that begs for an answer…the question that every person must answer is: What Will I Do With Jesus? Our faith in Jesus and acceptance of what He did on the Cross as payment for our sins will change everything. Hear me today…there is no Plan B.
God’s Church has a timeless message of mercy:
Jesus Paid It All, All to Him I Owe
Sin Had Left A Crimson Stain
He Washed It White As Snow!
May the powerful Presence of the Risen Savior cover you and your family as you celebrate Easter 2022.
For The Harvest,
Bob Wilburn