Beautiful Surrender (An Early Easter Message)

"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The above Scripture is from John 10: 14-18 and describes something of the 'Beautiful Surrender' of The Lord Jesus in His life and death on earth around 2000 years ago. This surrender was not to humankind but to His Father in heaven. Before creation came into existence, God The Father had planned to send His Son, The Lord Jesus to rescue those who would take His saving hand of grace.

The Lord Jesus was not forced to the cross by Pilate, the Romans, the Jews, Judas Iscariot or anyone else. He was not even forced by God! His Father gave Him the task but He did not force Jesus to accept it or carry it through to the end. The Lord Jesus chose to beautifully surrender to His Father. In Gethsemane, He prays to His Father 3 times words to the effect of: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” This shows His anguish but simultaneously His incredible devotion.

The Lord Jesus chose the cross where He died to pay the punishment due for all of the world's sin (darkness in our hearts and lives) so that we can be forgiven all of our sin if we accept Him as our Saviour. He rose again on the Third Day so that those who accept Him as their Saviour can be with Him, Father God and The Holy Spirit now and forever!

We all have a choice...

Reject Him or accept Him.

What have you chosen?

What will you choose?

If you choose to accept Him, the immeasurable gifts of forgiveness and life with Him now and forever are FREE for us, bought with the precious blood of Christ BUT staying connected with Him will cost you a different kind of beautiful surrender.

You see, once you have truly accepted Him as your Saviour, your heart will not want to sin anymore (at least not like it used to) and the world may throw extra challenges at you because you bear His name.

But how would you rather live?

With God or without Him?

In my experience, this is nothing worse in this life or in the eternity to come than feeling/being distant from The Lord God Almighty. It is not always a 'Happy Surrender' following Him and it is not always an 'Easy Surrender' but IT IS always a 'Beautiful Surrender'.

May you and those dear to you know the closeness of Christ, God The Father and The Holy Spirit this Easter time and beyond and know that truly in Them and Them alone is LIFE TO THE FULL!

Happy Easter!

Pastor Steve Brunton and Pastor Richard Brunton