Well, friends, it's that wonderful time of the year again, Easter; the resurrection story.
I saw a poster once that said, "If you don't believe in the resurrection, you haven't been to my work place at quitting time." Maybe you have worked in a place like that.
On a much more serious note, let me share the following story with you.
A little boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon. Suddenly out of nowhere a bumblebee flew in the car window. Since the little boy was deathly allergic to bee stings, he became petrified. But the father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it. But as soon as he let it go, the young son became frantic once again as it buzzed by the little boy. His father saw his panic-stricken face. Once again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his hand. There, still stuck in his skin, was the stinger of the bee. "Do you see this?" he said. "You don't need to be afraid anymore. I've taken the sting for you." And this is the message of Easter. We do not need to be afraid of death anymore. Christ faced death for us. And by His victory, we are saved from sin. Christ has taken the sting! First Corinthians 15:22 asks" "Where, oh death, is your sting?" Christ has taken the stinger for us. He has risen! Fear is gone. New life is ours.
I don't know of a message that brings more hope and encouragement than that of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Paul, the New Testament writer said, "If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins."
May we have the privilege of seeing you at our Easter services?
Pastor John Giesbrecht
