Easter is right around the corner. I'm all about sugar and everything fluffy and cute.  I mean who doesn't love biting the head off of a large chocolate bunny. But let's face it, if Easter were only about the basket full of candy and baby chicks then how sad it would be for humanity.  Easter is all about endings and beginnings, just like life.

       The events and chronology of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection were already unfolding this time of year over 2000 years ago. Last night, Tuesday, Judas betrayed Jesus at the olive grove in Gethsemane.  This morning, Wednesday, Jesus was brought before Pilate and found guilty of blasphemy, claiming to be the Son of God. By Thursday he had already been crucified and died. By Sunday morning, before the sun rose, when the women arrived at the tomb bringing prepared spices for the body Jesus had already arisen.  Glorious. How do we know this happened for sure?  Check this out, it’s a list of some Old Testament Scripture that foretold of Jesus Christ.    Gen 3:15, Gen 22:18, Gen 26:4, Gen 49:10, Num 21:6-9, Num 24:17, Duet 18:15, Psm 16:9-10, Psm 22:all, specifically: Psm 22:14-16-18, Psm 132;11, Isa 7:14, Isa 9:6-7, Isa 40:10-11, Isa 50:6, Isa 52:13-15, Isa 53:all, Isa 60:21, Jer 23:5, Jer 33:14-15, Ezek 34:23, Ezek 37:25, Dan 9:25, Mic 5:2, Mic 7:20, Zech 6:12, Zech 9:9, Zech 9:10, Zech 12:8-10, Zech 13:7, Mal 3:1-4, Mal 4:2-6.     And how do we know these words are real...because it’s archeologically proven.  It’s called the Dead Sea scrolls. I looked upon them a few years ago at an exhibit in Raleigh, and I was astounded and wonderstruck by the accuracy of the penned words lying before me.  This, added to all of the New Testament books, and you've got one compelling argument that all of the events truly occurred.

                                                               

    So Sunday, whether preparing a family meal or hiding eggs for the children, please, for the Lord’s sake, recognize that Christ arose from the dead for our justification, gaining victory over death and the grave, so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly and for everlasting.

Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.