Christ's Passionate Love = Joy of Easter

         Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Please be passionate about drinking your portion this week of Easter.

            When you hear the word passion or passionate what thoughts come to mind? 

Webster’s Dictionary defines passion as "extreme, compelling emotion or intense emotional drive."

This week we are focusing on the JOY of Easter.  We can’t talk about Easter without recognizing the passion of Christ.  What was the source of His passion?  It was His intense love for mankind. Because He loved you and me so much, He gave his life for the sake of restoring us to fellowship with God.

 Philippians 2:6-7 tells us: “he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant by being made in human likeness.”  His passionate love caused Him to leave the glory of heaven to take human form and live an obedient life of self-sacrifice required by the holiness of God. Jesus was dedicated to accomplishing the requirements foretold by prophecies and the will of the Father.  All of this…for us! That’s the JOY of Easter. 

         The final words of Jesus from the cross were a triumphant proclamation. Like a runner crossing the finish line in agony, yet with great emotion in overcoming obstacles, Jesus said “It is finished!” (John 19:30) He had accomplished His purpose on earth.

            May we never take Christ’s passionate love lightly.  Instead of focusing on egg hunts, parties, and new clothes, let’s drink in the passionate love of Christ and experience the sweet JOY of Easter.