As we approach Easter, we invite you to look with new eyes at the goodness and the promises of God and marvel at His glory!
There was a point when John the Baptist sent His disciples to ask Jesus if He was really the one, or if they should be on the lookout for someone coming. Even John, who Jesus described as more than a prophet didn’t fully understand what the Lord was doing. In the midst of performing miracles and preparing to give His life, Jesus didn’t fit exactly into what John expected Him to do or to be.
“Are you the one to come, or should we expect someone else?” -John the Baptist
As people waited for the plan to be revealed, they often asked Jesus to act in ways beyond what they were seeing to fulfill their expectations, and many times, Jesus replied that His time had not yet come. Their most pressing issues were incredibly serious, seemed like they would never end, and it seemed like Jesus could do a lot more about them.
Their beloved country was occupied. They were oppressed. People were sick, blind, poor, and sometimes demon-possessed. If the Messiah would only show Himself for who He truly was and fix these things, everything would be perfect, right?
On Good Friday, it would have been ‘obvious’ that hope was lost as the Messiah hung on a cross. How could they know that the Lord was fulfilling His promises and prophecies in the way He had intended all along?
On Good Friday, it would have been ‘obvious’ that hope was lost as the Messiah hung on a cross.
Miracles and freedom from Rome were not bad things to ask for, but those requests were too impermanent and small. Instead, and sometimes in addition to what they asked for, the Lord gave what He knew they needed: in His time, in a way that would give Him glory, provide salvation, and bless the whole world.
Giving His own life was the only way that sin could be paid for. It was the only way for our relationship with a Holy God to be restored. Many of their problems remained, but their greatest need and ours had already been met. They asked for the biggest thing they could think of, and God did so much more.
They asked for the biggest thing they could think of,
and God did so much more.
Because of God’s faithfulness, we can walk through even the most difficult and unexpected moments in life knowing that He cares for us. Because He is good, we can follow Him, knowing that He will direct our steps. Because Jesus would give His life on the cross to meet our greatest need, we can trust Him with everything else. Because He is great, we can give Him all the glory.
This Easter, we invite you to come and marvel, rest and obey, ask, walk, praise, and rejoice in Jesus as if it were the first time you understood the Good News. Our hope is that you will look to the God of salvation, that you would trust in His gift, and know that He loves and cares for you even more that you could know.
We hope you have a very Happy Easter, and we can’t wait to celebrate Him with you!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
– Ephesians 3:20-21
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