The Shadow Before the Celebration

Week of April 4, 2025

“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)       

Soon, we will celebrate Easter. Churches will be full of people and “He is Risen” will ring from pulpits. But before we get to that celebration, we must not overlook the shadow of the cross and the road that led our Savior there. We want resurrection without sacrifice, but that is to miss the weight of what Jesus endured and the depths of His love. Before the victory of the resurrection, there was the cry of abandonment: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Jesus didn’t suffer so we could have a moment of celebration once a year. He bore the weight of our sin so that we could be forgiven and free. A price was paid for that.

This Easter, let the shadow of the cross remind us of His love. Let it stir a deeper commitment to serve the Lord. As we approach Easter, don’t just prepare for a service – prepare your heart. Reflect on the cross, so when we celebrate the resurrection, it is with the awareness of what it cost.

God Bless, Pastor Rick