Dear Friends
There is the story of a missionary in Brazil who
discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the
jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in
need of medical attention. A contagious disease was
spreading across the village. People were dying daily.
A
hospital was not too far away — across the river, but the
Indians would not cross it because they believed the river
was inhabited by evil spirits. And to enter its water would
mean certain death. The missionary explained how he had crossed the river
and was unharmed, but they were not impressed.
He then took them to the
bank and placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked
into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter.
They were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dived into the river, swam
beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He raised a
triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water and escaped. It was then
that the Indians broke into a cheer and followed him across.
Jesus has dived into and crossed the river of death and in triumph come out
the other side unscathed. He tells us to not be afraid as He has made the
way safe. |
A good friend of mine, who is seriously ill with kidney problems, was afraid of
facing death. A local pastor visited him and told him that there was nothing to
fear as Father knows the way home. “The way of the cross leads home.. it is
good to know as I onward go, the way of the cross leads home” The triumphant
words of Jesus “it is finished,” resonate within our hearts. The resurrection
ratifies all He said and did with an extravagant demonstration of
God’s power.
“The story is told of a Muslim who became a Christian in Africa. “Some of his
friends asked him, ‘Why have you become a Christian?’ He answered, ‘Well,
it’s like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road
forked in two directions, and you didn’t know which way to go, and there at
the fork in the road were two men, one dead and one alive—which one
would you ask which way to go?’”
At Easter we will declare again the foundation of our Christian faith. Amidst
Easter bunny’s and Easter eggs we will unashamedly say, “Christ has died,
Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.” Hallelujah!
Yours in the fellowship of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Crawford
|
