Preparing for Easter
ed. by D. Gander
During this season of Lent as we prepare for Easter celebrations, it's important to start by realizing "the reason for the season". The significance of Christmas is brought into focus by God's sacrifice and newness of life He offers by His son's giving of Himself, on the Cross.
Following upon the theme of last week's article, Rev. Jeff Kingswood has written:
"True compassion is expressed when we, with love and kindness, declare that the only way to God is through Jesus Christ whose death and resurrection removed the barriers that sin created between man and God. True compassion calls believers to holiness, repentance, and the fruits of godly living. True compassion has the guts to say that all else is a lie. True compassion lovingly confronts us with our sin and points to Jesus Christ who alone is able to deliver us from that sin. Not because we are lucky enough to have discovered it on our own. Not because we are smarter or more sophisticated but because God in His love has shown us the truth about ourselves and has not left us believing a pluralistic counterfeit. Real compassion confronts sin and calls for change in Jesus Christ." ("Pioneer Christian Monthly", May '95)
Rev. Dr. Frank Uhlir has been quoted often in this column. He was a great friend and teacher during my early years of rebirth in Christ. Among his many other writings, Frank published a series of booklets for the Easter season (available from The WORDsmith, Box 599 Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0 Canada). Thinking about the events of Good Friday, he points out what many Christians feel throughout the year but especially at Easter when contemplating the crucifixion:
"On this day especially, our Christian heart hears the call of the Cross. Something mysterious and strong comes from it, and when we fall on our knees in humble concentration upon the crucified One, we recognize that it is God's love and our sins nailed there which radiate from the two arms of the Cross. Each one of us identifies himself with the Son of Man dying on Calvary. Whether we are aware of it or feel it only subconsciously, the fact is that there is something very mournful and oppressive about this day, and it falls upon us like a heavy burden of guilty, making us small, humble, ashamed, and penitent.
"We feel that the Cross is not a piece of wood, but a Judge whose eyes penetrate every cell of our hearts, searching all its wounds and scars caused by sin, which we try to hide from men but cannot hide from God. This is the voice of Good Friday. Calvary is the most horrible testimony of what sin does: it kills God."
And yet there is a joyous sequel, as Rev. Uhlir later describes. This is a death unlike any other, because it goes beyond the grave not just for Christ Himself but for all mankind. Through His victorious sacrifice we may experience in this life a foretaste of eternity, when we are able to "die" to ourselves and live in newness of life, in Him.
During this season of Lent as we prepare for Easter celebrations, it's important to start by realizing "the reason for the season". The significance of Christmas is brought into focus by God's sacrifice and newness of life He offers by His son's giving of Himself, on the Cross.
Following upon the theme of last week's article, Rev. Jeff Kingswood has written:
"True compassion is expressed when we, with love and kindness, declare that the only way to God is through Jesus Christ whose death and resurrection removed the barriers that sin created between man and God. True compassion calls believers to holiness, repentance, and the fruits of godly living. True compassion has the guts to say that all else is a lie. True compassion lovingly confronts us with our sin and points to Jesus Christ who alone is able to deliver us from that sin. Not because we are lucky enough to have discovered it on our own. Not because we are smarter or more sophisticated but because God in His love has shown us the truth about ourselves and has not left us believing a pluralistic counterfeit. Real compassion confronts sin and calls for change in Jesus Christ." ("Pioneer Christian Monthly", May '95)
Rev. Dr. Frank Uhlir has been quoted often in this column. He was a great friend and teacher during my early years of rebirth in Christ. Among his many other writings, Frank published a series of booklets for the Easter season (available from The WORDsmith, Box 599 Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0 Canada). Thinking about the events of Good Friday, he points out what many Christians feel throughout the year but especially at Easter when contemplating the crucifixion:
"On this day especially, our Christian heart hears the call of the Cross. Something mysterious and strong comes from it, and when we fall on our knees in humble concentration upon the crucified One, we recognize that it is God's love and our sins nailed there which radiate from the two arms of the Cross. Each one of us identifies himself with the Son of Man dying on Calvary. Whether we are aware of it or feel it only subconsciously, the fact is that there is something very mournful and oppressive about this day, and it falls upon us like a heavy burden of guilty, making us small, humble, ashamed, and penitent.
"We feel that the Cross is not a piece of wood, but a Judge whose eyes penetrate every cell of our hearts, searching all its wounds and scars caused by sin, which we try to hide from men but cannot hide from God. This is the voice of Good Friday. Calvary is the most horrible testimony of what sin does: it kills God."
And yet there is a joyous sequel, as Rev. Uhlir later describes. This is a death unlike any other, because it goes beyond the grave not just for Christ Himself but for all mankind. Through His victorious sacrifice we may experience in this life a foretaste of eternity, when we are able to "die" to ourselves and live in newness of life, in Him.
