When I was a kid, I remember focusing a lot of time and attention on Christmas – but not as much on Easter. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized the real significance of this holy season – specifically that without the resurrection of Jesus, his birth would have been pretty pointless.
From the very beginning, God had a purpose and a plan that only His Son could accomplish. Back in 2020 I had the privilege of leading a study tour of Israel, which is one of my favorite aspects of my ministry. I’m absolutely fascinated by the diversity and culture of the Jewish people. And if I’m honest, sometimes I forget that Jesus was Jewish too. Even though I’d been there before, I must admit that it wasn’t retracing the steps of Jesus on the Via Dolorosa that most resonated with me.
You see, people-watching is one of my favorite pastimes. So one night I ventured out of Old City Jerusalem and took in the more modern part of the city, with its bustling shopping district, wide array of restaurants and coffee shops, and street performers. Among my most interesting finds was JFC – Jerusalem Fried Chicken. These things, while amusing in a certain sense, remind me of a fundamental truth: we are more alike than we are different. Israel is a melting pot unlike any other, with not only many sects of Jewish people, both religious and secular, but also a vast Arab population as well. And despite what we see and hear in the news on an almost daily basis, the reality is that most of these people manage to peacefully coexist.
For every pair of eyes I encountered on my evening escapade, I couldn’t help thinking, “Jesus came for them too.” As we pause over the next couple weeks to remember the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, may we also celebrate the hope and promise of eternal life that His resurrection brings to all who believe.
“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17 NIV
Garrick D. Conner
Discipleship Pastor
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