PAGE 4C, APRIL 5-6, 2006 NORTH FLORIDA FOCUS Suwannee Valley Do you REALLY know the risen Savior? By Pain Campbell It is almost time for Easter, a time for Christians to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ! It is also a time when many people worry about finding the per- fect Easter clothes, the right Easter candy or baskets, gifts, the Easter egg hunts, bunnies; coloring eggs, and so much more. Now it is true that those things are fun and there is nothing wrong with them as long as you remember that the real meaning of Easter is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! Do you teach your children the real meaning of this holiday, or do they think that it is just a time for egg hunts and the Easter Bunny? Children need and want to know that Jesus died for their sins and rose again just for them! The Gospel is very simple, a child can certainly understand the love of God's son, Jesus. Make this a very memorable Easter.for your children or grandchildren, or any children that you come in contact with and let them know about the real mean- ing of Easter. Do you know Jesus as your savior, or do you just go to church because it is Easter? You can know Jesus in a very personal way! You may already know that the real meaning of Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We know that he died for our sins, and we may have asked him to save our souls, we may celebrate his resurrection in Church every Easter, but my question for you today is do you REAL- LY know the risen savior? Not just know of him, or just believe in him, but do you know him personally, is he really Lord of your Life? Is Jesus Christ your best friend, your savior, your Lord, your Healer, do you talk with him daily, do you read his word, do you worship him and really love him? When we get to the place where we know our Savior Jesus Christ in a personal way, we will want to get off alone and spend time in his awesome presence, talking to him in prayer, worshipping him, and hearing from him as he answers us whether it be in a still small voice, an au- dible voice, through his Word, or through some other means, he always answers. Jesus was not just a won- derful man, or a great figure in history, he was and is, the son of the only true, living God! He came to this earth as a baby born of a virgin in a lowly stable, he grew up as a carpenters son, he was knowlegable way beyond his years as a child teaching in the temple. He Became the greatest teacher the world has and will ever know,, he performed miracles over and over, in- cluding raising people from the dead. He taught his disciples well though some did not stay true to their Lord, he was mdcked and ridiculed and then he was betrayed, and sentenced to death for doing nothing wrong. He was laughed at and jokingly called "the king of the Jews" when all the time he truly was and is the King of all Kings! The people yelled crucify him, and the crowds got their way, but only because it was written that the son of God must die a cruel death for the salvation of the world. God knew that we needed a perfect sacrifice, his own son who was without spot or blemish to die for us, to take away our sins, and the sins of all the people of the world. He let them sentence his only son, Jesus to death on a cross. Jesus carried that old heavy wooden cross to Golgotha's hill. As he carried that old cross they beat him over and over again for our healing. You see they thought that they were just torturing him before /" / I I ,.i- they killed him, which they were, but it w; healing of all who are ever sick or afflicted sickness, disease or injury. Jesus carried a cross over 650 yards to the place where th hang him on that very cross. He was beate dehydrated body was being gouged by the wood of the cross. They beat him so horri was barely recognizable, his blood flowed and I. Isaiah 52:14a says "His visage was s( more than any man." You see we read in I 6 "But he was wounded for our transgress was bruised for our iniquities: the chastise FIRST UNITED METHODIST "".:' :?:: .... ... fo, Opportunities to Become a Disciple Sunday: 8:30 am ~ Informal Worsh 11:00 am -Traditional Wo 9:45 am ~ Sunday School.. All Ages Nursery Provided CHURCHH ir vision is to lake disciples r Jesus Christ Believing... p Belonging... rship Becoming.. Being Sent,, Phone: 362-2047 Pastor: Jim Wade 251575-F Christ Central inistries 4 of Live Oak S"A Church on the Move" -d yi Youth Pastor: Pastor Hal Chaffee t Ladies Ministry t Mens Ministry of : Youth Group Youth Group astor Trevor Blanton Ic Children Church Pastor Wayne Godsmark 1550 Walker Ave. SE, Live Oak, FL 32064 386-208-1345 2515B2-F WESTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH Live Oak, Florida Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:50 a.m. 6:30 p.m. Mid- Week 6:30 p.m. Wed. (386) 362-1120 \1 t ''. Dr. Jiinni. eas, Paslor our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." He actually paid the price with his own flesh, his own blood for you to be healed! That is a promise from God, so you really do have the promise of God's miraculous healing for your body today! Jesus did not stop there, he knew that we needed more than healing for our bodies, we needed salva- tion for our very souls. He continued to carry that cross until they got to the place of his crucifiction- where they cast lots for his clothing, they put a crown of thorns on his head, and proceeded to hang him on that wooden cross. They drove large rusty spikes into his hands and his feet. I will share with you a quote from Dr. G. Bradley concerning his death. "This was the most agonizing death man could face, he had to support himself in order to breathe, the flaming pain of the spikes hitting the median nerve in the wrists explodes up his arms, into his brain and down his spine. The spike burning through the nerves of the feet jerks his body erect, then the leg muscles convulse and drive his body downward, beating him against the cross. Exhaustion, shock, de- hydration and paralysis destroy the victim." That is what Jesus suffered for you, he shed his blood so that everyone can be forgiven for every sin. Hebrews 9:22 "without the shedding of blood there is no remission (for sins)." Right before Jesus died he said the most amazing words "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do." Luke 23:24 He then said it is finished and it truly was, the sins of all mankind had been paid for with Jesus blood. We are so thankful the story does- n't end there. Three days later just as he said he would, Jesus defeated Satan, and he rose from the dead! "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 6:23 Everyone that asks Je- sus into his heart and life will be saved and will live forever with him.in heaven. The Bible says in Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." If you don't know Jesus, if you have not asked him into your heart it is not too late, he is waiting for you to pray, just talk to'him from your heart, he will come into your heart and save your soul. He longs to be your savior, your Lord, your healer and your very best friend. You see Jesus is Alive today, he has risen! If you are a Christian and you have accepted Jesus into your heart, I ask you do you REALLY know him? Do you spend time reading his word, talking to him, worshipping him, drawing closer to him each day, learning to hear his voice and follow his leading? The Bible says 'And you shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 When you take time to get alone with the Lord as for the he will meet you there, he wants to spend time with i ith any you and fill you with his peace and guide with his 100 pound hand, he really loves you and will never fail you. iey would Here is part of a verse that really sums up where we n, his torn, should be in our lives if we are truly Christians. "Fix rough your thoughts on Jesus" Hebrews 3:1 bly that he Yes, Easter is coming, I pray that you and your fami- for you lies will have a wonderful time celebrating this won- o marred derful holiday, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus saiah 53:4- Christ. If you don't really know him in a very person- sions, he al way, take time to find him, he is right there where ement of you are.