Another word for ‘Easter’ is ‘Paschal.’

The meaning of Paschal has to do with sacrifice. Jesus IS our propitiation, our appeasement to the Father, our substitute. For what? He took what we could not keep so we could stand boldly before the throne of God. Jesus was slain that all may live – live eternally with joy eternal – the joy of the LORD God Almighty and being His child forever and ever, amen.

Jesus Christ is the Paschal Lamb – the Lamb slain from the creation of the world. That may be hard to understand, but, beloved, never forget God’s Word (the Bible and Jesus) are never in error or contradiction.

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not  been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

Revelation 13:8

God always knew the crucifixion would come, for He knows all things. And, He knew there would be victory; the victory gained through the shed blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, abused, flogged, spit upon, crucified, dead, buried – and resurrected!
THE PASCHAL LAMB

EASTER IS MY VERY FAVORITE celebration. Easter clearly shows us a time of renewal. It comes in the season of Spring. We all know, many, many changes take place in Spring – changes in the air, the sights, the smells. Birds which are not seen in Winter come back home to enjoy the course God has instilled in them. It’s such a precious sight to see a robin back for his preferred Minnesota season. It is no coincidence trees which may look dry, withered and dead in the Winter start budding with new juicy, new green leaves. The rivers and lakes start showing open water; water which can be heard trickling down a gutter. Even this is one of the delightful sounds of Spring. And, unlike, the type of flowers which must be planted each Spring season, perennial flowers (not always seen by the human eye) having been dormant over the frigid winter, start slowly creeping out of the ground. Pushing out of the now-thawed ground, we see the beginnings of budding flowers. Suddenly at an accelerated speed, perennials begin exhibiting green leaves and an array of marvelous colours, as well as infusing backyards with delightful aromas. Spring does have a palpable aroma: an aroma of renewal, an aroma of beauty: and seemingly an aroma of new life. The trees and perennials have not died; they were dormant, alive and inactive.

Like Spring, Easter reminds us of beauty and life – that beauty of the God-kind of life. When Christians are born again, born from above, they realize, though they were always alive in one sense –  and they certainly had been dead  in another. Christians realize they need Easter! They need the resurrection of the only One who could take someone – not dormant – but spiritually dead – and as God breathed the breath of life into Adam, the first man; Jesus Christ, Him crucified and resurrected, literally bought our lives back from satan, the father of lies, allowing us to choose Jesus as our only Lord and Savior so that we may have life eternal with God in Heaven with purpose, with clarity, and with holiness in His name forever praised. Amen.

Truly it all has been done: all has been done that is needed to be done to give people the weapon which can never fail (in faith) as they need to fight the good fight, win every battle, be more than conquerors against every evil attack – and have that joy eternal.

Jesus Christ said: – τετέλεσται – “It is finished.”  The celebration of Easter is fast approaching. The claims of Jesus can never be denied – successfully. Jesus is the same today, yesterday and forever. No one can – or ever will – prove any shortcomings, for He is perfect. He is God. He is Messiah. He is Lord of lords and King of kings – period.

The weapon I speak of to attain that joy eternal ζωή life / that God-kind of life – is through faith in the blood: the only blood that came to us already untainted; holy blood. This holy blood of Jesus – fully God / fully Man – is the weapon to be applied to the doorposts of your heart and slung at the devil’s demands! Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, came down from Heaven to Earth through a virgin. This blood of Jesus came, not through Mary, but through His Father – Father God! And because He was born of a virgin and as the Holy Spirit (also God) came upon Mary and the power of the Most High (also God, the Father) overshadowed her, Mary carried the seed – Jesus – who would, at the proper time, crush the devil’s head for it is written:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring  and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15

I encourage you today to re-read “WANTED”  in my first volume of  “JOY STORIES.” This want ad speaks of the passionate desire of God to have you as His child / son or daughter. It challenges us all to have a contrite, humble and hungering heart for the Most High. Clearly this writing speaks also of the very necessary adoption into His Kingdom – His family; for there are only two. It is imperative that we are saved by  His grace, through faith – Easter faith – faith in the power of the blood of the Paschal Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

As Peter and John were before the rulers, elders, teachers of the law, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, and others, they declared fearlessly: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 This is my Easter – and everyday – declaration for those of you who are outside God’s Kingdom. And, for those who have humbled themselves and are born again, born from above, as Jesus appeared to his disciples after the crucifixion, I say as He said to them, “Peace be with you!”

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FROM THIS “JOY STORY”

Romans 3:25

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.