So Easter is over, and as I look back over the day and through the season of Lent, I realize how much encouragement means to me. What helped me realize it so much, were the days that it seemed to escape me. Those days were horrible, long and stressful. It reminded me that my best encouragement comes from God. I also learned that it works to it's fullest capacity when it is not hoarded, but allowed to flow through me, to other people. So I wanted to share what encouraged me most during this time. It is the words God gave me to share on Easter Sunday with our children's church. I hope it encourages you, as it has encouraged me.
The big God story starts .... with God....and His amazing love. Because of that love, God created a world, and in that world He put a garden. In this garden were so many wonderful things, animals, plants, water and trees. Vegetables and fruits.....so many things that were good to eat. And into this perfect garden, The Lord put a man and a woman. They knew God.....they walked in the garden with Him. But then there came a problem, and the man and woman disobeyed God and brought something wrong into that perfect garden. It was sin. Because of that, God knew He would not be able to live so perfectly with the people He created. That the sin would grow and the punishment for that sin is death...the people separated from God.....never having that close relationship with Him again. God did not like that. He wanted to be close to the people He created. So God had a plan to fix it. God also knew He would have to wait for just the right time. Until then more people were born, and through time, God called many of them to a special relationship with Him. There was Noah, and Abraham, Moses and David. And wonderful women that God used, like Rahab, Deborah and Ruth. Prophets who spoke God's heart to the people like, Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Then there was Malachi. And after him there was 400 years of silence. Then....at just the right time in God's story.....a baby was born. He grew in wisdom and stature. God was pleased with him. And when God was ready.... Jesus began His work. He started by telling the people about God's great love for us, and His plan to save us.
So many people listened to Jesus, they followed Him everywhere He went. He taught them, and showed them God's love and mercy. He healed those who were sick and was able to bring hope to so many. He chose 12 disciples. 12 special friends, who traveled with him, helped Him and listened to His teaching. Many people were hoping He would be the new king of Israel, that the hardship they lived under would be brought to an end, but Jesus knew that He was a king of a far bigger kingdom.
But there was a problem. There were men who did not like Jesus. Some were the priests and men of importance in the temple. Their hearts were hard....and they chose not to believe what Jesus said. They were afraid that people would not listen to them any more, because they were listening to Jesus. They thought He was stirring up trouble. It was then that they decided to get rid of Jesus.
One evening Jesus and his friends, were in a garden in Gethsemane. Jesus knew that the time had come for the next step in God's plan. You see, Jesus knows the hearts of men. Even the one's that wanted to kill him. They came for him that night and arrested him. They hurt him badly, beating him. and while Jesus could have called down a thousand angels to free himself, he didn't. Because God already knew what was going to happen, and Jesus knew this was all part of God's plan. They took him and he was judged, they did not find him guilty, but they chose to crucify Him anyway. He hung on a cross, in so much pain, and there he died. Later in the day a man named Joseph came and took his body down. Cleaned Him and wrapped Him in linens. He laid him in a tomb, and rolled a large stone in front of it.
Jesus friends were so scared. They were so sad that their friend was dead. They just didn't understand why? What kind of plan was this? But you see, it all went back to the garden. That wrong that Adam and Eve let in, that sin. Left to continue forever it would destroy the closeness that God wanted with me and you ....all of us. So He sent Jesus, to take the punishment for my sin, and yours. And in doing that, he paid the price for all people. Everyone. Now we can be as close to God as that first man and woman was. By accepting Jesus, and in faith, by choosing to follow God.
You know there is more to this story though. That was on Friday....a day of pain and sorrow. But then came Sunday. And on that day, some women came to the tomb. They wanted to make sure that Jesus body had been well taken care of. But when they got there they were surprised to find the tomb open. The stone had been rolled away. And when they looked inside, they could not believe their eyes. Jesus body was not there. He was gone. They cried out in grief... "Who has taken The Lord?". They thought someone had stolen His body. It was then that they saw the angels. An angel told the women that Jesus was not there. That Jesus was alive. The women were so excited, they ran to the disciples, and When they told the disciples what had happened, they didn't believe them. They thought the women were talking crazy... But they went to the tomb and saw for themselves. Jesus body was not there. They left, so confused. They still didn't know what was going on. They didn't understand that Jesus is alive!!
Oh but they did find out later that night when Jesus came to them, the disciples were amazed to see Him. Over the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to many people. He told the disciples they were to continue sharing the good news that we could be reconciled to God because of what Jesus had done. He told them to tell all of the people in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and all over the world. And that is just what they did. They told people, and many believed. And then those people told more people and even more believed. They kept sharing the Good news of Jesus so much, that one day someone told me....and today in my part of the "big God story" I get to tell you how much God loves all of you. and how He wants to be a part of your lives forever. You can be part of the big God story too. By Faith.... believing, trusting and obeying God....through Jesus. That is how you become a part of God's most wonderful....fantastic...."big God story".
