April Epistle: In Like a Lion

The month of April certainly comes in like a lion! No, I’m not talking about the  weather, although as I write this there is a minor disturbance forecast and a chance for  a little needed rain and perhaps even a snowflake or two. No, I say April comes in like  a Lion because April 2nd, 3rd and 5th are such momentous days, not just for this April  or even for our lifetimes – these days mark the most consequential days in the history  of the world. 

On the surface, life continues day after day, bringing  with it the same joys and challenges, times of  happiness and times of sadness, familiar routines and life changes. Politics are politics, we’ve entered  another war (hopefully a short one), drought  conditions persist, and the trees are in full bloom.  Familiar life goes on.

But in these first days of April, we are reminded that there is much more going on  than familiar life! The disciples had celebrated the Passover since they were children.  They had taken part in the ceremony,  rehearsed the Exodus history with their  families, prepared the Passover lamb  and eaten the meal many times. But  they were not prepared for Jesus to  change the familiar wording of the  Passover liturgy  that Maundy  Thursday, as he took the unleavened bread after the meal and  said, “Take, eat. This is my body,” and the cup after the meal  (the Cup of Redemption) and said, “Drink of it, all of you, for  this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for  many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). What  did the disciples make of it?  They certainly weren’t expecting Jesus, their beloved rabbi  and friend, to be arrested that night in the garden of  Gethsemane, taken without a fight. By Friday morning he was  on his way to the familiar place called Golgotha, where  murderers and revolutionaries were publicly executed. Only  John stood there, watching, with Jesus’ mother, Mary. The  rest of the disciples were hiding in fear and guilt. And then, the one they had hoped was the Messiah of God was gone. He was dead.  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried him in a tomb. It was over. 

Except it wasn’t. Because Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah of God. God had sent  His own Son into human flesh. He did that in order to save you from being sentenced  to an eternity in hell. The Son of God walked the earth. He carried our sin to  Golgotha. His suffering and death were the price of redemption for you and for me  and for the entire human race. And, on Easter, God raised him from the dead.

An angel rolled the stone away so  everyone could see that Jesus had  risen. Never before in human history  had a man died and come back to  life of himself. Jesus rose from the  dead, just as He said He would. The  disciples saw it. They touched Him  and ate with Him. They talked and  laughed with Him. Many others witnessed Him alive again as well. What did they  make of this? What do you? These days of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and resurrection are the pinnacle of history. It  is the hinge point between damnation and death, and redemption and life.  

So, what do you make of it? Is April just another month on the calendar? Is Easter just  another chance to get together with family? Is Holy Week just another series of  church services to sit through? 

Absolutely not. Dear Christian friends, we have an eternity looming before us. What  happened 2,000 years ago determined our forever. The Son of God paid the price  required to make us righteous in God’s sight. The benefit of His sacrificial death and  resurrection is ours by faith. No hoops to jump through, no line to toe, no test to pass,  no standard of righteousness to uphold. Our righteousness comes as a gift from  God, purchased by the blood of the Lamb He provided. That’s what makes these  days coming up in April so monumental. That’s why we celebrate Holy Week every  year and His resurrection every Sunday! That’s why I say that April is coming in like a  lion!

From Revelation 5:1-10: 

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the  

throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with  

seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a  

loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its  

seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the  

earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I  

began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy  

to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders  

said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe  

of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he  

can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 

And between the throne and the four living creatures  

and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though  

it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes,  

which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the  

earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right  

hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when  

he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the  

twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each  

holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which  

are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new  

song, saying, 

“Worthy are you to take the scroll 

 and to open its seals, 

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God 

 from every tribe and language and people and nation, 

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, 

 and they shall reign on the earth.” 

This Holy Week we celebrate again the victory of the Lion of Judah over sin, death and the  devil. His victory assures our victory, and seals our place in His kingdom which has no end.  To Him be all honor, glory and power, now and forevermore! 

At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus says, “Surely I am coming soon!” And we echo  John’s statement, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” 

Pastor