Are we celebrating death?

Some people might think we would be sad during this week we celebrate the passion of Christ. Actually, we are happy. Not because Jesus was slandered, beaten up, spat at and finally crucified, but because he could comply with the Father’s will which served to bring salvation to all who care to believe in Him. It was not easy for Him for He was one hundred percent human. He even pleaded God in Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Mathew 26:39)

Some Christians have even told me when I have spoken of the beautiful music we sing during these days: “we only celebrate “Easter’ because we do not celebrate death, but only life.”  But, it so happens, that Jesus Himself said it: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal”

 (John 12:23-25)  So we celebrate that He wanted to bear much fruit so you and I could live eternally. Therefore, we celebrate His death and after three days, His resurrection. We are NOT sad for Him, but for all the ones who are so blind and insist in not seeking the truth, that in Him we’ll be forever well.

Back in the time of Moses, when he led his people out of slavery in Egypt, and towards the Promised Land, God revealed all the laws to him (over 600 of them including the Ten Commandments.). It was also established the feast of the “Passover” of the Lord to celebrate their freedom. The families were to slay a Passover lamb to eat and apply some blood on the lintel and the doorposts of their house “For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.” (Exodus 12:23-24)

Centuries later, John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)  He is the Lamb who precisely in the feast of the Passover was slain to free us from our sins, and that’s worth celebrating.

Nevertheless, at the third day  He arose from death because He is also one hundred percent divine and as it is written: So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them (the disciples), he was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.  (Mark 16:19)

So, by the observance of the Holy Week we are really celebrating LIFE.

                          HAPPY EASTER!       

How Much Does a life of a person cost?

Have you ever made yourself that question? Think only on the oxygen we inhale. How much would it cost us if we had to pay for it? Thanks GOD we have it free! Yet, how much does it actually cost to a person, for instance, who has a breathing problem and needs it in order to live? Could we afford it if all of us had to pay for it? And do we thank God for that one we do not have to pay for, everyday?

I know people who take it for granted and never thank God for anything, yet they’re the first ones to make him responsible for every misfortune, calamity, accident or anything that it is not provoked by Him, yet they are so quick to attack with obscenities.

It is sad that we are so ungrateful for all the goodness He blesses us with, yet geared up to sentence Him as soon as something goes wrong. He, who left all His Glory (Jesus himself said it: My kingdom is not of this world-John 18:36) in order to repair something He was not guilty of, to give us the life we do not deserve; and what did we do?  We accused Him of an impostor and had Him crucified, we, the people, yes. Shame on us!

Many people might think of the fact of His dying as a useless one, because He did not try to keep on living in this world, healing and teaching, perhaps imposing a new political system like the “wise” people do. What for, though? He had already done what he came to do here, which was to die in the cross for the salvation of humanity so “we, the people”, the ungrateful ones, the ones who always obey Satan and once yelled “Crucify him!” could live eternally because He paid the price. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

So Salvation is FREE for anyone who believes, for Jesus paid the price so we would not have to. That is how much it cost for us to live. Do you want to accept the gift our Lord gives us? It is up to us to accept the offer; we do not have to pay or sacrifice anything  Jesus already did, and he admonishes us while there’s still time: “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”(Revelation 3:20-21)