Easter

As we celebrate the Easter season, I want to encourage you to ponder anew the implications of the gospel for us today. The historical fact is that Jesus, both fully God and fully Man, walked this earth, “lived the life we should have lived, and died the death we should have died” (Keller). 

He took our sin in his body and suffered death on our behalf so that we would never have to face the eternal consequences of our traitorous rebellion against God.

For “He [Jesus] who knew no sin, became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5: 21). And then He rose bodily from the grave! Jesus beat death, is alive forever and can be known and experienced by His Holy Spirit every day by those who put their trust in Him.

As I've been reflecting on this season, I’ve been struck that Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer to be “saved from the hour of death” went unanswered. The man who committed no sin of unbelief asked God to move a mountain and the Father answered, “No!”. Yet Jesus accepted the "no." Then "with joy" endured the cross, scorned its shame and sat down at the right hand of God" (Heb. 12:3)

Jesus knows what it is like to hear the Father’s “No” and trust and obey anyway.  And yet the Father’s “No” was in actuality for us the ultimate “Yes!” Can I thank God for His divine “No” even when I can’t see immediate reasons or results? Am I willing to wait for God to vindicate Himself and His “No”?

Have you heard a “No” from God recently to a prayer offered in faith? The gospel reminds us that God can be trusted to accomplish His will even when He gives us a “No.” Lord, increase our faith, and keep us open to the surprising miracles that often come with your “No”!

Rejoicing with you that God’s Hardest “No” was our Biggest “Yes”,     ~ David