4-1-19<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nHow\ndo most of us prepare for Easter? \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\nam sorry to say that, often, in the same way we generally prepare for\nChristmas by buying presents and planning meals; and prepare for\nThanksgiving by buying turkeys and inviting relatives. The arrival of\nEaster often is consumed by coloring eggs, dressing well for church,\nand deciding between lamb and ham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus\nprepared for Easter, although of course it was not called that in His\nday, in ways we know. Before His Incarnation, Father God prepared the\nway. The prophet Isaiah described it seven\nhundred years <\/em>before\nJesus\u2019s birth: \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nChapter\n53: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord\nrevealed?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For\nhe shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a\ndry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see\nhim, there is no beauty that we should desire him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He\nis despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted\nwith grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was\ndespised, and we esteemed him not.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Surely\nhe hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem\nhim stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But\nhe was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our\niniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his\nstripes we are healed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n All\nwe like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own\nway; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He\nwas oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he\nis brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her\nshearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He\nwas taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his\ngeneration? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the\ntransgression of my people was he stricken.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And\nhe made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death;\nbecause he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nYet\nit pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when\nthou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed,\nhe shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper\nin his hand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nHe\nshall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his\nknowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear\ntheir iniquities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nTherefore\nwill I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the\nspoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto\ndeath: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the\nsin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Preparing\nfor Easter. Seven hundred years earlier (in our own perspective, if\nwe can imagine, that would be like two hundred years before the birth\nof Columbus), a Prophet of God described Jesus, even to whether He\nwas handsome or not; His persecution and trial; and how He would die.\nAnd why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But\nthere was a prophecy that was closer in time to Jesus\u2019s own day. We\ndo not often connect it with Easter. From Luke chapter 2 \u2013 \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nangel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings\nof great joy, which shall be to all people.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nFor\nunto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is\nChrist the Lord. And this <\/em>shall\nbe <\/em>a\nsign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,\nlying in a manger.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nAnd\nsuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host\npraising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth\npeace, good will toward men\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nwas a man in Jerusalem, whose name <\/em>was\n<\/em>Simeon;\nand the same man <\/em>was\n<\/em>just\nand devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost\nwas upon him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nAnd\nit was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see\ndeath, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nAnd\nhe came by the Spirit into the temple where the parents brought in\nthe child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then\nSimeon took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now\nlettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nFor\nmine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before\nthe face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the\nglory of thy people Israel\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Simeon\nblessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this <\/em>child\n<\/em>is\nset for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign\nwhich shall be spoken against;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nYea,\na sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of\nmany hearts may be revealed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So.\nIsaiah foretold the Person of the Christ, and details of His life and\ndeath; angels announced His birth; the holy man Simeon explained the\nholiness and mission of the Messiah, with attendant violence and\nsacrifice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But\nlet us back up to the angels in the hills above Bethlehem. Tidings\nof great joy\u2026<\/em>\nreferring to this baby who was certain to be unjustly persecuted,\ntortured, and executed? Tidings of great joy about a someone the\nBible also calls a \u201cMan of Great Sorrow\u201d? Tidings of great joy\nabout the person who will be \u201cdespised and rejected\u201d\u2026 by God\nHimself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nDoes\nthis make sense at all? Especially to call it \u201cjoy\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Praise\nGod, it\ndoesn\u2019t make sense<\/em>.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nIt\nis God\u2019s way, however. He loved us so much \u2013 even when we were\nyet sinners \u2013 that He provided the ultimate pathway to find eternal\nlife with Him. We cannot earn it ourselves. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\ncannot earn it ourselves. Isaiah knew it; the angels knew it; Mary\nknew it; Simeon knew it; Jesus, of course, knew it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nDo\nyou know it? Go thou and prepare for Easter. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n +\n+ +<\/p>\n\n\n\n