It is Easter week. Stores are filled with Bunnies, coloured eggs and decorations. Holidays are here, laughter can be heard. However, some 2000 years ago, the world looked different. Note these excerpts from John 19-20 in the Message Bible.
They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him.
Jesus said, “it’s done…, complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his Spirit.
These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “they will stare at the one they pierced.”
But on Easter morning, Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning to face him, she said in Herbrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”
Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascended to my Father and Your Father, my God and your God’”
Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house, Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, ‘Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
What would happen if the 3,000,000 self-proclaimed Christians in Canada, lived every day with the realization that Christ died for us? Our world would be a totally different place.
Leadership is … living daily, shepherding others, knowing that God has a plan for each of us.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com