Just around the corner (this Sunday), we are celebrating Easter.
Sometimes, it's easy to get lost in the doings and the trappings, rather than reflecting and celebrating the reason of the season (just like at Christmas time). Hence, the reason, I attempt to set aside Lent as a season to "journey to the cross" and sit in its shadow...
"Easter" (as my young grandson once informed me) is a 'BIG DEAL!'"
Indeed!
It's so much more than bunnies and baskets; Easter reminds us that once we:
...were dead in our trespasses and sins, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air...the passions of our flesh...and were by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3)
...were the uncircumcised and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world... (Ephesians 2:11)
...were far off, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel...(Ephesians 2:12)
...lived behind a dividing wall of hostility...(Ephesians 2:14)
BUT GOD...
...being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, made us alive together in Christ, brought us near by His blood, tore down that dividing wall, grew us into a holy temple, fellow members of the household of God, and filled our hearts with PEACE, HOPE, JOY... (Ephesians 2:4-22)
How can we not rejoice the way the Apostle Peter encourages (Greek word - agalliaō; a combination of words meaning much joy; to jump for joy, exult, be exceedingly glad)?!?!
Easter spotlights for us the one-anothering of Jesus, especially His "work" on earth as submitted servant (see last week's blog).
Jesus...who, though, He was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant....and, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient (this Greek word can also be translated as submissive) to the point of death...on a cross
(Philippians 2:6-8).
Jesus...who for the JOY set before Him (Hebrews 12:2b)...willingly gave up His will to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42) that He might die once for all sinners (Romans 6:10) that we might live to eternal life.
So, when Peter says, "put on Jesus (again, this is my translation of Peter's instructions to the holy oddballs to whom he is writing his letter)" - keeping Easter at the forefront of our brains - the first response that comes to mind is - - - - Now,
Go and do likewise:
ONE-ANOTHER one another, just as Jesus did, faithfully submitted to the Father with a heart to serve.
