I have been taken back many times to the wonderment of the words of the music that resounded in my spirit as I awakened from my major nine-hour surgery and in the days after, which I experienced over 3 years ago now. “What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus, what can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus. How precious is the flow that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know nothing but the blood of Jesus!“

  I am amazed that this would be the song left in my spirit that would sustain and wash over me through that time in my life. I sang this song for most of my early years and remembered the lump in my throat as I would go to the altar to receive His forgiveness and mercy. I loved His presence so much, even then, and will always be glad for my early upbringing in that holiness Free Methodist Church. I recently heard this song being sung at the end of the Mercy/Elevation and Maverick City worship. It still and will always capture my heart as I marvel at His mercy and goodness. I’m alive to tell the story of His great mercy and the power of His blood!

It is His blood and resurrection power that cleanses and heals every area of our being and makes us truly ‘whole’. The message that He has renewed within me is that this must be spoken and said to the multitudes. His great love for us is beyond compare, and His arms are open wide to all who come with humble repentance to receive His precious gift of life in abundance here on earth and for all eternity.

  I am reminded of the Holy Spirit drawing me back in conviction to the verse that spoke to my wayward heart and brought me to my knees before Him 41years ago. 1 John 4:18-19 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” You see, He loved us first! Not because we deserve it but because of who He is!

At the heart of Easter is a story of love so deep, so radical, that it defies human understanding. It’s the story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to Earth not to be served but to serve, not to rule, but to die. Picture this: The weight of the world’s brokenness on His shoulders. The sting of every betrayal, every sin, every hurt humanity has ever known. And yet, He willingly walks toward the cross. Why? Because of love. Because He knew the only way for us to be free was for Him to give His life in our place. But the story doesn’t end with the cross. If it did, we would have no reason to celebrate. No reason for joy. For as deep as Jesus’ sacrifice was, it would be meaningless if death had the final word.

The Cross is Not The End of the Story!

Death didn’t have the final word. Jesus did. Three days later, the stone that sealed the tomb was rolled away, and the grave was empty. The resurrection wasn’t just a miracle—it was a declaration that Jesus had defeated sin and death, once and for all. In that moment, the power of darkness was broken, and a new hope was born. Imagine the scene early that morning. Mary Magdalene, heartbroken and confused, arrives at the tomb, expecting to find her Savior dead. Instead, she finds an angel sitting where His body had been. “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” Matthew 28:6. For Mary, it was a moment of disbelief, followed by wonder, joy, and awe. She had seen Jesus die. She had witnessed His suffering. And now, she was face-to-face with the greatest miracle in the history of mankind. Jesus was alive. And because He lives, we too can live.

             Jesus death and resurrection made it possible for the Holy Spirit to dwell with us and be in us.  John 14:16-19 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

He has given us full access, through the Holy Spirit alive in us, to the fruits of the Spirit to be manifested in our personal lives. Galatians 5:22-23^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Yes, He gave us the power of the Holy Spirit to have access to the fullness of His great love that transforms the hardest of hearts and gives us a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

He also gave us the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit as an amazing manifestation of His goodness and love. Read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 12, especially starting in verse 4. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.”  “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 

Peacemakers do not ignore injustice. They do not pretend that suffering is small. They pray, they serve, they speak truth with compassion. As we approach Easter this year, it may feel difficult to celebrate while so much pain is filling the headlines. But perhaps this is exactly why Easter matters now, more than ever.

This Easter, we challenge you to reflect on the meaning of the resurrection. Don’t let it just be another holiday on the calendar. Don’t let it pass by without allowing its message to change you. If you’ve never truly given your heart and surrendered your life to Jesus Christ or you know you have fallen away from Him, we urge you to say the prayer below. Trust in His sacrifice. Believe in His resurrection. Let Him give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. If you already know Jesus, let this Easter be a time to renew your commitment, embrace His resurrection power once again, and live boldly in the hope He has given you! In closing I would like to leave you with a Salvation Prayer from Richie Seltzer to print out and leave in your Bible. 

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and that you rose from the dead. Today I repent of my sins and in doing so I receive your forgiveness. I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior today and I ask You to give me the grace to follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name Amen.

In His love always,

Lois & Rex