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Surprise! Some say the greatest surprise about Easter is not that Jesus is alive, risen from the dead… not that He conquered death and hell… not that He comes to meet you as He promised. They say the greatest surprise is that He did all that and is not angry. We need not fear His return because He is not angry with those who believe in Him. He bears us no grudge. He seeks no revenge against us. He comes to give us peace, mercy, forgiveness and salvation. While one might quibble over which surprise is bigger, it’s true that Jesus lives and is not angry. He doesn’t blame you. He doesn’t even blame those who killed Him. He gives Himself into death to win us back from sin, death, and hell. He does it willingly. He does it sacrificially — Himself for us. He gave what was His to give. So what He asks the Father from the cross — “Forgive them” — is granted to you in His resurrection. He comes alive out of death to forgive you and to give His life to you. Because Jesus is raised from the dead and is not angry with us, we need not fear. So we are truly free — free from worrying about how to make it up to Him, and free to give as He has given to us. He gave Himself as a gift, His life in exchange for our death, willingly and sacrificially. And so it is that we are now free to give of ourselves in like manner: willingly, sacrificially, with what we have been given: mercy, forgiveness and the Word of salvation. So do not be afraid. Jesus lives, and He is not angry. His sacrifice is complete, so our debt is canceled and forgotten. God declares us righteous — forgiven, clean, pure, holy, and filled with His good works in His Name.
Jesus lives. Hallelujah!
~Pastor Nickel
