Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed! As we enter into the season of Easter this week, we will participate in a 5 day reading plan by Nicky Gumbel called Why Easter? Nicky is an Anglican pastor in the UK, Holy Trinity Brompton, one of the leading churches in England. Over 100,000 people have completed this plan. I hope you find this helpful
Scott
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Why Easter? by Nicky Gumbel
“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NIV
Why do we need Jesus?
You and I were created to live in a relationship with God. Until we find that relationship, there will always be something missing in our lives. As a result, we are often aware of a gap. One rock singer described it by saying: ‘I’ve got an emptiness deep inside.’
A woman, in a letter to me, wrote of a ‘deep deep void.’ Another young girl spoke of ‘a chunk missing in her soul.’
People try to fill this emptiness in various ways. Some try to close the gap with money, but that does not satisfy. Aristotle Onassis, who was one of the richest men in the world, said at the end of his life: ‘Millions do not always add up to what a man needs out of life.’
Others try drugs or excess alcohol or sexual promiscuity. One girl said to me, ‘These things provide instant gratification but they leave you feeling hollow afterwards.’ Still others try hard work, music, sport or seek success. There may not be anything wrong with these in themselves, but they do not satisfy that hunger deep inside every human being.
Even the closest human relationships, wonderful though they are, do not in themselves satisfy this ‘emptiness deep inside.’ Nothing will fill this gap except the relationship with God for which we were made.
According to the New Testament, the reason for this emptiness is that men and woman have turned their backs on God.
Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35). He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest hunger because he is the one who makes it possible for our relationship with God to be restored.
a) He satisfies our hunger for meaning and purpose in life
Only in a relationship with our Creator do we find the true meaning and purpose of our lives.
b) He satisfies our hunger for life beyond death
Most people do not want to die. We long to survive beyond death. Only in Jesus Christ do we find eternal life.
c) He satisfies our hunger for forgiveness
If we are honest, we would have to admit that we all do things that we know are wrong. By his death on the cross, Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven and brought back into a relationship with God.
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Closing Prayer by Scott
During this season Jesus, help us to find our strength and joy in you. Fill our hungry souls with your goodness and love. Amen.