Easter

Easter Devotional
“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”
J. Anthony Shuff, Director of The Salvation Army Service Center

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[March 21, 2018]  Many years ago my wife and I organized and began a children’s church ministry to train and inspire the spirit, heart, and mind of our most precious and valued possessions – our children. Our desire was to impart God’s Word accurately and with enthusiasm. Knowing the inquisitive mind of all children, we interspersed our teaching, object lessons, and drama with periods of quick Q and A’s.

First, children love to answer questions. Also, they love to be first. And, they love to have the right answer. Many, who have ministered to children between the ages of six to twelve, will be smiling and nodding at this “seemingly” childish response. We could have had a story about Moses and Joshua, or the story of Noah and the ark - maybe the story of Jonah and the great fish or King David. It didn’t seem to matter what the topic or chief character was for the day. Like a flash, a room full of children threw their hands in the air or began jumping to their feet. Before we could call on an individual to answer, the children in one accord would shout out “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”

While smiling and trying to discreetly chuckle without laughing aloud, I recall directing the conversation and questions in such a way as to help the children eventually arrive at the correct answer, i.e. Moses at the burning bush, not Jesus, the king’s name was David, not Jesus.

Not until recently, now decades later, have I reconsidered the children and their enthusiastic responses. Has the answer always been “Jesus?” God has reminded me of scriptures like Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Now, the reason we have hope from the things written before is because the law and the prophets all pointed to Jesus.
 
Then reading John 5:39,

“Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me”
Jesus said.

Again, it’s all about Jesus.

Now look at the account of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus in the last half of chapter 24 of the Gospel of Luke. The resurrected Christ joins them in their journey and discussion of the recent events of His death and burial. Before their eyes were opened as to who was speaking with them, Luke records this remarkable statement. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” - Luke 24:27.

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The Psalmist tells us that if we delve to the lowest depths of the sea or search to the heights of the heavens, He is there!

What we have taken away from those years of children’s church ministry has now changed our way of thinking about many of life’s most difficult questions. The children had it right all along. I was wrong and they were right. What is the answer to our personal issues, our social ills, violence in the home, at schools, and in our streets? Where does our hope lie? From Genesis to Revelation and in all of life, the answer is the same.

One of the world’s greatest contemporary preacher's and evangelist, the late Billy Graham has ministered to more people than anyone in all of recorded history. He was asked, “if you had just one message to preach, what would it be?” You guessed it- Jesus and the cross! Christ and Him crucified! The Cross of Christ - His death, burial, and resurrection is the answer! Then, now, and always, the answer is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

To the real point, He can now be your answer. Prayerfully now repeat His name, asking Him, who took your place on the cross, to forgive and cleanse you. Ask Him who has been interceding for you, to come into your life as both Lord and Savior. As His Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are now a child of God, you will join the children in saying, “The answer is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” This will ensure you enjoy a blessed and happy Resurrection Sunday.

 

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