Tag: #thereasonfortheseason

It’s not a fairytale.

Oops! Realized I included this blog twice! Oh well, I’m leaving it because the picture is different & perhaps someone new might be intrigued & accept Jesus. When something is important, repeat it. 😉

[Jesus said,] my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (KJV)

My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (NLT)

So many times, we turn the death of Jesus into a storybook tale with a happy ending: the resurrection. I truly appreciate the reality of suffering depicted by Mel Gibson’s, The Passion of the Christ. Jesus came from heaven, God’s son, and lived as a man.

Jesus experienced temptation and felt pain. Emotional pain struck His heart as He was betrayed and abandoned by His closest friends. He also felt physical pain, unbearable to the point of death, yet He continued in suffering.

Verse 42 demonstrated the battle between flesh and spirit as Jesus asked of God, His Father, if there be any other way. Jesus, as a man, did not want to suffer and die. Yet, Jesus, as our Savior, was willing to fulfill the plan of the Father. Are you willing to give up your plans and your feelings in order to complete God’s will in your life?

In verse 53, Jesus says,

Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?

Jesus knew the reality of the power of God! How much more difficult for Him to continue suffering, knowing all He had to do was speak the word and angels would be summoned to deliver Him! Jesus overcame temptation. Jesus bore our punishment because of love.

This was not easy for Jesus. He did not use some supernatural anesthesia to help Him get through it. The crucifixion of Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, a labor of love, secured redemption for all mankind. Will you accept it?

Will you believe in Jesus?

It’s as easy as ABC:

A. Admit you are a sinner.

B. Believe that Jesus is God’s only Son, that He died for you, that He rose again, and that He sends His Spirit to dwell within you.

C. Confess your sins to God, and He is faithful and just to forgive you.

Go and sin no more.

Never forget the true story that brings us our happy Easter❣️

*rock photo: carving at The Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus wept & prayed before the betrayal of Judas.

I’m so selfish.

Luke 2:17

And when they had seen it, they may known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

A friend of mine has a young son who is eight years old. The other day he had a list numbered 1 to 20 and filled in all he wanted for Christmas. The mother, shocked by the lengthy list, said, “Son, you cannot have 20 gifts for Christmas. Perhaps three, four, or maybe five, but certainly not 20.”

The little boy began to cry. He was heartbroken by the prospect of only a few Christmas presents. The mother explained how much money it required to purchase all these gifts. She asked her son, “Do you want Mommy to work all the time?”

Upon further reflection, she sat down with her son and explained the reason Christmas is celebrated. She told him of God’s great love for mankind, and how God gave us His best gift by sending His only son, Jesus, to be born. Jesus came from heaven to earth as a newborn baby, grew to be a young boy, and then a man. He then died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again on the third day, so we all might live forever with Him in heaven.

Often times we neglect to teach our children basic life stories. It seems that we consider the gift of Jesus as common knowledge, but so many haven’t heard. The Bible tells us in Romans, “…how shall they hear without a preacher.” (Ch. 10 vs. 14) As parents we must teach our children, so they will know.

How precious it was when my friend received a note from her young son after she told him the real reason for Christmas.

“Dear Mommy and Daddy,

All I want for Christmas is nothing. I know Christmas is not about presents. Sorry I am being selfish.”

Such wisdom and understanding from a young boy! I believe we can all learn a valuable lesson from my friend. Christmas is about Jesus. Share this good news with everyone you can. Teach the next generation of God’s greatest gift to us. Happy birthday, Jesus!