EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Christ's death offers hope
By H. Murray Hohns
There has been much attention to the passion of Christ. Mel Gibson's movie has received all kinds of praise and criticism. The movie vividly reminds us that Jesus' mission was to die and to suffer terribly in that process. The shadow of the cross fell on his cradle in Bethlehem, where he was born to absorb the penalty for our sin.
While he came to do that, he also came to do more. Scripture tells us he came to destroy the works of the devil, to fulfill the law of God, to seek and save the lost, to be forsaken and to heal us by his wounds. Indeed Jesus came to put right what we humans have put wrong by our sin. Thus above all, Jesus came to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Gibson's movie tells of the extent that Jesus suffered to atone for our sin. This was necessary because we have no power to make right what we have done wrong, and our creator abhors that state of affairs. Thus, Jesus stood under the weight of the sins of the world and absorbed the overwhelming force of evil without passing it on and so cut the lines of lawlessness that had come down through the centuries from the beginning of time.
That happened on Friday, but on the third day he rose from the dead. Make no mistake: He was crucified, died and was buried. Yet he rose from the grave and changed the history of the world. The first words spoken on that first Easter morning were "The Lord has risen." Easter 2004 will find millions of people across this world saying "He is risen." The crowning point of history is the day when Jesus rose from the grave.
This is the message of Easter: "The Lord is risen." It is the core of the gospel. It is what Christianity is about, and the only thing to matter in the end. Because "the Lord is risen," the kingdom of God is at hand, and it is available to us. Death no longer reigns for the believer. Jesus rose, and so shall all who have put their faith in him. I trusted Christ as my savior 43 years ago, and found to my utter amazement that he is alive. He walks and talks with me as my days go by.
"The Lord is risen" is the reason why I prepared this article. It is the reason that we gather on the Lord's day. "The Lord is risen" is behind our acts of charity and caring. "The Lord is risen" is what took Sister Teresa to India and countless others to the ends of the earth. "The Lord is risen," and thus we plant churches throughout the world, we buy radio and TV time to proclaim this wonderful news. We build orphanages, offer counseling, visit prisoners, reach out to the downtrodden to tell all "The Lord is risen" and there is thus hope for tomorrow, fear has been conquered, gracious redemption can be found in him.
His resurrection means God's grace cannot be defeated even by death. Easter is a glorious day. It is about what God has done for you. Enjoy what God has done for you.
H. Murray Hohns of Makiki is a retired engineer and an associate pastor at New Hope Christian Fellowship. Expressions of Faith is a column that welcomes works by leaders in faith and spirituality. E-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-8035. Articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
