Thouoght for Saturday, March 30th

March 30, 2013

Easter – The Real Reason

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 John  10:9-10

“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.”

-       Carl Jung

I would never want to diminish the significance of all that culminates together causing the purpose of the Easter season to hold the meaning it does for us.

The final trip into the city of Jerusalem, riding on a Donkey: the washing of the disciples feet and the Last Supper in the Upper Room: the time of prayer in the Garden: the betrayal by Judas: the mock trial: the scourging and the crown of thorns: carrying the cross up the hill to Golgotha to the ‘Place of the Skull’: the driving of the nails into His feet and hands: the grueling hours on the cross, culminating in the utterance of His final declaration, ‘It Is Finished’: the placement in a borrowed tomb and the absence of the body three days later because He arose victoriously:  but these are only the elements that accomplished the real purpose for and the reason we celebrate.  We celebrate life: His and the life He came to give us in Him.  The true reason for the Easter Season is to celebrate the Life we receive because of all that He has done on our behalf and in our place.

He came not just to give us life, but life in greater measure.  He came to give us life everlasting and life that is resplendent with hope, peace joy and potential because of Him.

To borrow from a very familiar phrase from “The Fiddler on the Roof,” sang by Tevye:  as we celebrate Easter this season may we say ‘L’haim, l’haim to Life’ and let all honor and glory be given to the Giver of Life.

And may the purpose of our life be to illuminate our world and be a source of His life-light to those who are lost and dying.

Today’s Prayer

Father, without Your gift, made possible through Your Son all I have is death: but because of You and Jesus I have not only life, but abundant life: Thank You!