The Easter story recounts the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Betrayed by Judas, Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified. Christ's death on the cross met the covenant's demand for the sinner's punishment and fully satisfied God's justice for His chosen people. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and offering eternal life to believers. This miraculous event is celebrated as a testament to God's love and the promise of salvation. God's promise of salvation is wonderfully expressed in the well-known Bible verse, John 3:16, which states: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

The real "story" at this time of year is not about the easter bunny, colored eggs and hunts, or festive chocolate and marshmallow candies. It is about the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A person must respond to this "story" with faith and repentance to be saved from eternal condemnation. This involves acknowledging and confessing one's sins to God with heartfelt sorrow, believing in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection as the ultimate sacrifice for those sins, and accepting Him as one's Lord and Savior. The Bible emphasizes that salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith, not by one's own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). If you have not yet responded to this story by faith, do so today, and you'll begin to experience a Spirit-guided life with a real sense of purpose, rooted in the glorious hope of eternal life. If you have responded by faith, may you be blessed with a glorious Resurrection Sunday!