The Citizen, 2012-03-29, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012.
By Pastor Andrew Versteeg
Brussels Community Bible
Chapel
It is Easter time again, the best
time of the year for the Christian
church.
Over the years Easter has become
the highlight of the year for me and
I would like to share a few reasons
why that is so.
Easter is celebrated either in
March or April because we set the
date of Easter by the moon. It is
springtime and I always associate
Easter with spring. There is a new
anticipation in the air as the weather
becomes warmer, the snow melts,
and things begin to grow again.
For me Easter and spring are
pleasantly closely linked. The first
day of spring is March 21 (vernal
equinox), from there we go to the
next full moon and Easter Sunday is
then the next Sunday after this full
moon.
This corresponds very closely to
the Jewish lunar calendar and their
celebration of the passover. Jesus
died on the passover as the
sacrificial Lamb of God. Another
reason why Easter is a highlight is
because I am able to set aside a
special day of the year to remember
and think about what Jesus did
for me; namely that He died for
me.
My father passed away when I
was quite young and a few years
later my mother married again and I
had a stepfather. I have always
deeply appreciated what my step-
father did for me. He sacrificed a lot
for me; his time, his energy, and his
possessions. In a real way he
sacrificed a lot of his life for me. But
Jesus did this in a much greater way.
Jesus died for me.
Now what does that mean and
what is significant about that? The
Scriptures teach us that there is only
one reason why death came into the
world. It is because we have sinned
against God. Romans 6:23 says:
“The wages of sin is death.”
Physical death is only one part of
death. The Bible speaks of a “second
death” (Revelation 20:14) which is
an eternal conscious torment in hell.
Now when we think about Jesus’
death we need to ask the question,
“why did He die?” Jesus never
sinned, but still He died as if He had
sinned and that is because He died
for sinners.
In our judicial system it is possible
for someone convicted of a crime to
obtain a pardon for their crime and
be set free and their criminal record
erased. Originally a true pardon
could only be granted if justice for
the crime was carried out by another
party. If I received a jail sentence I
could be pardoned if another person
served the sentence for me. That is
what Jesus did when He died on the
cross. He served a sentence for a
crime He did not commit. The
Scriptures teach that He suffered and
died physically, but more than that
He also suffered the torments of hell
for all those who would receive the
gift of His salvation. Romans 5:8-9
says: “But God demonstrates His
own love toward us, in that while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now being
justified (pardoned) by His blood,
we shall be saved from the wrath of
God through Him.” I received this
gift from God a number of years ago
and I am always humbled and
overwhelmed with thanks. I love
Jesus because He loved me and died
for me.
A third reason why Easter is a
highlight is because of Easter
Sunday – the day we celebrate the
resurrection of Jesus from the grave.
He died and rose again. His
resurrection is proof to us that God
the Father accepted Jesus’ payment
for our sin - the payment has been
made in full. Jesus promises and
gives new life, eternal life to those
who believe and trust in Him. It is
real life.
Romans 6 is a wonderful
explanation of how this new life
becomes a reality for us. This
passage teaches us that when we
become a Christian our sinful self is
crucified and put to death with
Jesus on the cross, but then just as
Jesus was raised from the dead
we too are raised “to newness of
life.”
This “new life” changes
everything and we begin to love
Jesus and love the things He loves.
Through the resurrection we are
empowered by God to live for Him.
Romans 6 tells me that I was once a
slave to sin but through Jesus’ death
and resurrection I have been set free
to live for the Lord.
Jesus rose in victory on Easter
Sunday morning and He offers this
victory to any who realize they need
it, and want it, and sincerely ask
Him for it. I hope that Easter will be
the highlight of the year for you as
well.
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Palm Sunday, April 1
Ethel United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Holy Week Services
at Brussels United 12:05 pm
Monday, April 2, Tuesday, April 3 and Wednesday, April 4
Lunch to follow. Area Ministers presiding.
Good Friday Service ~ Friday, April 6
at Brussels United 9:30 am
Please join us for worship
Hwy. 4, Blyth
519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 6:30 pm
“Walk Through Holy Week”
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Sunday, April 1, Evening Service is at 6:30 p.m.
Walk through Holy Week with Blyth churches
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, APRIL 1
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water Christian Fellowship
April 1: Col. 2:1-10
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Forgotten God Small Group at Kerrs’
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women At The Well
Thursdays 7:00 pm - Truth Project Small Group at Dows’
Evangelical Missionary Church
Truth Project #2:
Philosophy & Ethics
- “Says Who?”
Good Friday April 6: FREE Community
Breakfast at Memorial Hall, 8:30 - 10:30 am
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
APRIL 1 ~ Palm Sunday Parade
APRIL 6 ~ Good Friday Experience ~ 7 pm
APRIL 8 ~ No Mourning on Easter Morning
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, April 1
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
119 John’s Ave., Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor
9:25 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m
Morning Worship Service
10:30 am
Fellowship time to follow
Join us for our
Service
From the Minister’s StudyEaster is the time to remember
that Jesus pardoned our sins
Got Married...
Call for pricing & details
519-523-4792
or 519-887-9114
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