Issue 1410 – No Fooling – April 1, 2024
Yesterday evening, we celebrated an Easter dinner with family and friends at their home on nearby Hatzic Lake. Today’s image is the view from where we were sitting.
I love this time of year, as so many of the trees burst into blossom, seemingly overnight. It reminds me of the fact that summer is coming. On this Easter weekend, it also reminds me of the resurrection of Christ. It’s a metaphor with a weakness because the tree only appears to have been dead but was actually dormant. Christ, on the other hand, was truly dead and raised to life.
Jesus is not a metaphor. He isn’t a fable. He isn’t just some good teacher who was made into a god later.
It is April 1st, All Fool’s Day or April Fool’s Day, set aside for pranks and jokes, but Jesus is no joke.
He is the real deal, the whole package, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega.
In the words of the Apostles Creed, Jesus…
was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
In His own words, Jesus is:
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, John 11:25
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:25-26
I could carry on with many more examples. Jesus wasn’t joking around. He was God incarnate and made no bones about that.
He is our life and our hope.
In the words of Christians worldwide yesterday, “He is risen. He is risen indeed.”
When I see the flowering bushes, I am reminded that spring is coming. When I think of Jesus, I know that death has been defeated and His followers have a place secure in Him and with Him forever.
It makes me rejoice.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)