Love Ran Red

It's Easter again.

When I was young, Easter was about special lunches, going to church and chocolate eggs (if my brother and I were lucky). 
However, this year, that was not the case. I came to a point where I wondered why we celebrate Easter. Sure, Easter is about the death of Christ but these questions came to mind: Why did Jesus die and what does it mean for us today?

The amazing news about this is that in the end, a new revelation dawned. 

In this special blog post (slightly longer than the rest), we will look into the reason of the season.
With a conversational style of writing, I hope to uncover 3 powerful promises with you that will change the way we look at life with Christ. Are you ready? 

Let's dive in.

Welcome to Fire of the Lighthouse's Easter Edition post: Love Ran Red

Let's take it back to the beginning...

In Genesis 1- 2, God created the Earth and added a little something special to His creation: humans.

Adam and Eve reflected the image of God on earth and they all lived together in traquility. All they had to do was not eat the forbidden fruit and all will be well. Unfortunately, humanity fell into temptation from a serpent and ate the fruit.

Because of this, man was separated from God and banished from the Garden.

Wait! How can they be separated from God when God is everywhere?

God's presence (holiness) is like the sun: bright and life giving but if one gets too close, it can be harmful. If anything not like God (impure or not holy) gets into His presence, it dies.

Because of the sin, human flesh became naturally corrupt and unlike God. God is everywhere but humans could not be in God's presence (close with Him) or else...they'll die.

Is there any hope?

This is a sad "ending" for such a beautiful beginning. 
However, in the midst of such a hopeless situation, God promises a blessing. 

He promised that a son from Eve will cause have hostility with the serpent but "he will strike your [the serpent's] head and you will strike his heel." (Genesis 3:17).

This meant that this son of Eve will defeat sin (the serpent) by dying.

What has Jesus got to do with this?

After this prophecy, people eagerly anticipated the "son of Eve". Just as they were losing hope, Jesus came on the scene.

A son of a carpenter, descendant of Abraham and David, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the son of Eve who will restore hope and a relationship with God. However, despite all the miracles, people seem to forget the son had to die to defeat the sin.

After living a life of purpose, Jesus was whipped, beaten and then crucified.

Oh no! But isn't that the end? Why did Jesus have to die?

The thing about Jesus' death is that as much as it was sad, it was necessary to reap a good future.

In the olden days, the shedding of blood meant two powerful things, which are our first two promises from God:

1) Forgiveness of sins: When Jesus beaten, His blood was shed. Shedding of blood was seen as a method of atonement: forgiveness of sins. Jesus took our sin and consequences upon himself so that we don't have to pay the heavy price. When Jesus was bruised, He took away condemnation and any other painful consequences that come from sin. So, in His name, we are forgiven of any sin we commit.

2) A new covenant The shedding of blood was also seen as a restoration of covenant. When Jesus' blood was shed, a new agreement was made between God and man. Because Jesus carried divine and human heritage, He created a new promise between God and man: a close relationship.

That's great! But what happened to Jesus?

After three days, Jesus resurrected from the dead and later on ascended to Heaven with a promise of a new reign on earth when He comes back.

But the story doesn't end there.

Before Jesus was crucified, He made one powerful promise:

 "It is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate will not come." John 16:7.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why we celebrate Easter.

The main reason why Jesus died for us was not only for God to forgive our sins but to make a way for God to have an active part in our becoming.

In the beginning, sin separated us from God. That meant that we lived our lives away from God. The only way we could access God was through sacrificing animals and even with that, not everyone could do it. Only a specific generation called Levites could access the heart of God's presence. 

When Jesus died, resurrected and asencended, He made a bridge for God's personal presence i.e. the Holy Spirit to become a part of everyone's lives. 

The Holy Spirit comes as a help and reminder that we cannot live life alone.
He is there to help us live right for God and support us even when the world condemns us.

In short, God not only lives with us but in us, helping us live a life of fulfillment and purpose.

What does this mean for us today?

One powerful thing we must remember that when we believe in Jesus' death and resurrection, we unlock liberty, identity and peace.

Under Christ, we have access to God. We have a personal help (The Holy Spirit) that reminds us that we do not go through life alone. 
He becomes what we need when we need it. Be it the Counsellor in confusion, the Advocate in trouble, the Comforter in distress.

As you go into the next month, as you set those monthly goals, always remember, no matter the circumstance, God has called you as His own. Your future is bright and the plans He has for you are great. No mistake in the past can hold you and define you because Jesus' death has created a new identity for you.

Because love ran red, you have a Father that identifies you by what He says you have potential to be and not by your past mistakes.

In closing, Easter goes beyond the food and the chocolate eggs. 

It is the celebration of the liberation to live the lives we are called to live through Christ Jesus. We are free because His love ran red.

From the words of an anonymous person,

"You are loved more than you ever know by someone who died to know you."


Guide. Light. Inspire.

#LoveRanRed
#HappyEaster.