The Picture of Easter

Jesus struggling with an enormous, hefty cross; the flesh of His body open; spilling blood that covers His garments; and the cross and flowing to the ground.

Jesus disciples; standing in the crowd; helplessly and painfully watching; as He passes by. There, in the crowd is Mary, His mother, watching in anguish. A mother weeps for her son; she cannot be comforted.

When Jesus was too weak to carry the cross; Simon, a Cyrenian, was forced to carry the cross behind Him, as Jesus stumbles ahead; sometimes falling to the ground; He always manages to get up and keep on His way.

Jesus, now, lying on the blood stained cross; on the ground; they drove huge nails through His Body; His hands; His ankle; His right and left side. Driving nails through a body that is covered with massive abrasions, cuts, and gashes.

Jesus, stripped of His clothes; scarlet military cloak thrown about Him. A weaved crown of thorns placed upon His head; blood dripping down his face. Instead of water; they gave Him wine mixed with myrrh to drink. Jesus refused to drink.

The cross was elevated; now standing tall; Jesus nailed to that cross; His body; a mass of blood; ruptured from the lashes of the whip. Blood flowing freely from His wounds; unto the ground. His garment saturated in His blood.

A ghastly, bloody scene: Jesus hanging from the cross. Mary, His mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee were among His followers that watched from a distance.

Not a pretty picture. A very graphic picture; but a perfect picture of love. It is the picture of Easter.

GOD, the FATHER, sacrificed HIS only, dearly beloved Son, Jesus; to save us from sin. There is no greater love than Jesus dying on the cross to save us all.

On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead. But, first He suffered, spilled blood and died for us.

GOD so love the world and all of us; that HE sacrificed His only beloved Son to suffer and die, that we may be saved by grace. We all have the opportunity to be forgiven our sins.

In return, He only ask that we follow HIS commandments and laws; have faith, trust in HIM and accept HIS Son as our Savior. HE asks that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves and that we love HIM with all our heart, soul, mind and body.