"Happy Easter"

“You know what has happened all over Judea, 

beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, 

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.”

These are the words of Peter, who lived with Jesus: – ate with Jesus, spoke with Jesus, listened to Jesus – saw the miracles Jesus performed:

• Turning water into wine
• Healing lepers and the sick
• Curing the lame
• Giving sight to the blind
• Making the deaf hear
• Restoring speech to the mute
• Feeding the multitudes
• Casting out demons
• Raising the dead to life

Peter witnessed all this and more from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry through the end.

We Christians know these stories well because Peter and the other disciples, except the betrayer Judas, spoke of what they saw.  And because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in them to preach the Truth of the Gospel to the whole world.

From these witnesses we have the Truth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lived, who proclaimed the kingdom of God and the Father’s promise of a place for each of us.  They saw Him crucified, dead and buried.  These few, who walked with Jesus, bring us the Truth of He who died, was raised from the tomb and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, the Father.

From the witness of Peter, of John, of James, Matthew and the rest, we have come to believe.  They have seen and testified, we have heard and come to belief - in the Truth of Jesus Christ.  By this we are known as Christians:

• By His life that gave us the Truth of God’s love
• By His death that atoned for our sins; reconciling us to the Father
• By His resurrection that brings us to Life Eternal in God’s heavenly kingdom

It is God’s love for his children that He gave his Son to the world: to teach us, to heal us and to reconcile us to Him.  Through Jesus’ sacrifice we have salvation and everlasting life in God’s loving embrace.

Blessed are we who have not seen, yet come to believe – it is through these first disciples, these witnesses of the Truth that we come to know and believe so we may continue to proclaim to the world -Jesus Christ is Lord! – Alleluia, Alleluia ~ Amen

Peace,
Deacon Don