Easter is a highly celebrated event whether you are an Episcopalian, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, or "Christian" or some other doctrine you subscribe to. With its themes of Jesus' triumph over death and His resurrection, we prepare ourselves for the Ascension of our Lord.

It is important to remember that Salvation is not just a historical event that occurred in the distant past to other people in other areas. Easter is truly an opportunity for rebirth for those who grasp it. The spiritual energies available during the resurrection are available here and now. 

People interested in their spiritual growth and well-being eagerly look upon the Easter season. The rituals we observe allow us time for reflection, prayer, and repentance, which can lead to our rebirth.
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The early Christians no longer focused on the exodus from Egyptian Bondage but on a new kind of departure from the Bondage of sin to the new life of our Risen Lord. 

Sinfulness lies deep within a person; it is an attitude, a willingness to turn one's face away from the Creator. Often we are not even conscious of this shift away from God.

Only after one realizes that he has turned his face away and separated himself can he hope for perfect reunification. But how do we move from our deeply flawed state of sin to reconciliation? The followers of Christ have been furnished with the cure. Through the saving action of Christ, each of us has been reconciled to God. Once and for all, Jesus has paid the price for us to redeem ourselves.

Jesus Died For Us
Jesus died on the cross. Jesus was nailed to the cross. Yes, He was nailed! If you have ever had injections at the doctor's office, you know the feeling of pain that came with that skinny little needle. And, in a few seconds, the pain was gone. Now imagine what it was like for Jesus to have nails driven into His palm as He hung on a cross so that he could bleed until He died. The weight of His body certainly added to the torrential pain.

​Can you imagine the pain He certainly suffered? And, He suffered that pain for you and me.
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Good Friday was the day Jesus died. And then He was resurrected on Easter Sunday. If we study the work and the teachings of Jesus, we find nothing but selfless giving and miraculous cures. Jesus could cure miraculously because He was the Son of God. But did He gain any material comforts? Any pleasures? Not really. He didn't gain any goods from what He did. And, still, He lived a life of giving beyond measure. We read story after story of Jesus, the man who, while He Himself suffered, took away the sufferings of others. Even His death was excruciating. And remember, He suffered that pain for you and me.

He suffered that pain so that our sins could be forgiven. He sustained that pain so that our slate of sin could be wiped clean, and we can now have a genuine relationship with God, our Creator.

What does Jesus' life teach us? It teaches us not to give suffering to others but take suffering ourselves. It teaches us to comfort others. It teaches us selfless giving. It teaches us to forgive even if extreme pain is inflicted upon us. It teaches us to love all and hate none.

We must remember that life is a series of stops and starts, spiritual advancement and spiritual retreat. We have "spiritual growth spurts" throughout our lives until the day we die. The spiritual energy of the Easter Season affords us a unique opportunity to grasp hold of our redemption.

Let us celebrate Easter Sunday, remembering the teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Lord wants us to spread peace by living and giving selflessly. We honor Him by spreading goodness, happiness, and cheer worldwide.

I hope that this Easter, you will take the opportunity to explore the reason for the season in your own life.

We at Voice of Hope wish you a very Happy Easter!

​Photo Credits: Photo by Rodolfo Clix: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-image-of-person-praying-1615776/

Copright 2023 Marlene C Bertrand

​Death is a dark and gloomy thought, yet every year on the day we lovingly call Good Friday, Christians celebrate the death of Jesus Christ.

As sad as this day was, it was the most important day in history for people who were filled with sin. On what would ordinarily be a gloomy day by human standards, this was a day our sins were washed away with one single act – the sacrifice of the living Jesus Christ. His life for our sins was an exchange that made a way for sinful people to be forgiven.

John 3:15
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Why was Jesus chosen to be a sacrifice for our sins?
Plain and simple, God cannot look upon sin and He could not look upon people who sin. Back in the days before Christ’s death, whenever we sinned, in order to be forgiven, we had to offer up to God a living sacrifice – a life that was unblemished – a life that was clean and pure. As God cannot look upon sin, Jesus, who was sinless was the only life on earth pure enough to be offered up as a sacrifice to God. His death reconciled our sins.

Today, we are not required to offer a life for a sacrifice. Because, after His death on Good Friday, when Jesus rose again on Easter Sunday, the Lord Jesus Christ became the way in which we could be forgiven of our sins. Today, we simply ask the Lord for forgiveness, and when we are truly repentant, our sins are forgiven. It is as simple as that.

Today’s Video is About a Story of True Love
The story of why Jesus died for us is a story of love, for Jesus loved us so much that he gave His life for us. He suffered for us so that we may have a way to a true and meaningful life.
Today’s video is about the suffering of Jesus Christ as He traveled to Calvary where He died on a cross for us. He did this because He loved us so much.

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Video Credits:
Title: Via Dolorosa
Composed by: Niles Borop and Billy Sprague
Published by: Meadow Green Music and Word Music, 2018

Jesus died on a cross for our sins.

Bible Verses About Good Friday
It is my hope that the following Bible verses will help you delve deeper into the true meaning of Good Friday as it relates to sin, sacrifice, and forgiveness of sin.

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
• 1 John 1:9-10
• Romans 6:5-7
• Romans 3:25-26