Sunday March 9, 2008

WHAT DOES EASTER MEAN? In Exodus 11 and 12, we read about the plague of the firstborn and the first Passover. What did the Israelites have to do in order for “no destructive plague” to touch them? They had to take the blood of a lamb and paint it on the top and sides of the doorframes of their houses. Then God would “pass over” them when He came through Egypt with the tenth plague. Do we have to paint our doorframes for each Passover? NO! Why not? Because Jesus died on the cross for us and shed His blood. “…Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Cor. 5:7) Jesus died for our sins. One of the most important verses to remember in the bible is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” So what is Easter all about? Easter is about remembering that Jesus Christ is our Passover lamb and shed his blood for us so that we could have eternal life.

THIS WEEKS MEMORY VERSE
“He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:6)

Sunday March 2, 2008

ARE WE CLEAN OR UNCLEAN? Do you remember that last week, in Acts 12, we learned about Peter being put in jail during the Feast of Unleavened Bread? In the Old Testament, this feast took place every year when the Israelites celebrated their freedom slavery in Egypt. The Jewish people would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate. In Luke 22:1-2, we read, “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching and the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus for they were afraid of the people.” I bet you can tell me what is going to happen now. Jesus will be arrested, put on trial, and then crucified. Jesus has his last meal with his disciples on Passover, the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Today, we remember Jesus' last supper on the night before Friday. Good Friday is the day that Jesus was killed on a cross…BUT he rose again three days later on Easter Sunday. Jesus died for us!

THIS WEEKS MEMORY VERSE:

“I (really want) to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15)