Do you ever wonder what was it like? How it felt being someone who witnessed the tragic of the death of Jesus Christ; the trumped up charges brought against him; the betrayal of someone who’s feet Jesus bent down and washed?

Aren’t there times in your life you wished you could have lived in certain times of the Bible at least for a little while?

I wonder if we could handle seeing the things Jesus went through — the things He suffered at the hands of those who said they were his friends.

So many times when we read scripture we tend to skip over the familiar stories in the Bible we’ve read or heard about hundreds of times.

Unfortunately, I believe His death, burial and resurrection are some of those scriptures we “hurry” through.

Given the current situation of the world today so many are afraid of saying what they think, what they believe, because it might offend someone.

I’m not trying to offend anyone with this article. That is not my intent.

But I find myself wanting to declare from the highest point on planet Earth the same thing the angel declared in Matthew 6:6: “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said….”

As born again believers in Jesus Christ, we believe there is only one way to be saved and that is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is absolutely no other way.

Jesus died to shed His blood to wash us from our sins.

Every other religion in the world could say the very same thing: their “savior” died for them.

But there is one thing that differentiates Christianity from every other religion in the world.

The difference between Christianity and all other religions in the world is the empty tomb. The tomb of Jesus is empty.

You can go to the grave of Muhammad. You can go to the grave of Confucius. You can go to the grave of Buddha. At each one of those graves you will find the remains of each one of those religious leaders.

But at the tomb of Jesus Christ you will find it empty, “…. for he is risen, as he said….”

How will you celebrate Easter?

A suggestion would be to attend a church that believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Are you having an Easter egg hunt for the children? Sounds like fun as it will certainly take on new meaning for my wife and I as our two grandbabies will be a part of the celebration this year.

In all of our celebration activities I pray each of us find the truth that Jesus Christ “…. died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)

May you experience the joy of His resurrection today.

Mike Smith is the executive pastor at Franklin Avenue Church of the Living God.