Chag Sameach, Good News
Jews all over the world will gather tonight to celebrate the miracle of Passover, commemorating the liberation of their people from ancient Egypt.
The Book of Exodus tells us that Moses was sent by God to tell Pharaoh to "Let my people go." When Pharaoh refused, a series of plagues were inflicted on the Egyptian people. Through it all, Pharaoh's heart hardened and he still refused to end the bondage of the Jews.
The final plague that God used to free the Jews from Pharaoh and Egyptian captivity was to kill all the firstborn males.
Forewarned by God, Jews marked their doors with the blood of a lamb, and, as a result, He passed over their homes. Pharaoh finally relented and released the Hebrew people. (Exodus, Chapter 12.) God told the Jewish people to mark the day as a memorial day and to observe it as a feast to the Lord forever.
God was with His people then as He liberated the Jews of Egypt and led them to the promised land of Israel. He is with them now.
To all our Jewish friends, Chag Sameach, a joyous festival!
Good News - Of course, Jesus and his disciples were Jews, so they celebrated Passover. And whether the Last Supper was in fact a Passover meal has been the subject of much debate.
But today, on Good Friday, Christians can set can aside such debates and any dispiriting headlines. Today we focus on the Good News, and exactly what it is that we as Christians are celebrating. (And it's not chocolate bunnies or marshmallow chicks!)
As a child, when I read the Easter story, I wanted a different ending. If only He had come down from the Cross and destroyed His enemies -- that would have demonstrated His power. That is what I thought then.
Of course, I soon learned that Christ had to die. He was the perfect lamb, He was the sacrifice for our sins.
He died so that we might have everlasting life. Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
While some worship a god who commands men to die for him and to kill others for him, we worship a loving God who gave His only Son to die for us. What a contrast! What a savior!
As Charles Wesley's great hymn states: "Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me?"
But Christ did more than just give up His life. He conquered death. He rose from the grave. While Christmas overshadows most holidays, ultimately it is not a birthday that we celebrate. It is the resurrection.
If Christ had not risen from the grave, He would have been forgotten as a common criminal, a rabble-rouser whose birthday would have no significance.
But with Christ's resurrection, we have confidence.
Confidence in a caring Creator, rather than the chaos of the cosmos.
Confidence in a glorious future, rather than the finality of the grave.
On Easter morning, Christians do not remember a martyr. We worship the risen Son of God!
Thank God for the Cross and the empty tomb. Thank God for the Good News of Christ's resurrection.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
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Gary Bauer is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families
Tags: Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families, Chag Sameach, Good News, Jesus Christ To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
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