Two thousand years back into time - in a conquered dusty spit of land, that has been under the control of Babylonians and Assyrians, then overrun by the Greeks with their culture and language, and now troddened under the oppressive iron rule of Pax Romana - at the physical crossroads of known humanity (Europe, Africa and Asia) - there is Jesus, the little suckling infant of two poor teenage parents, in a stall's feeding trough with barnyard animals milling about.

He grows as the young lad, separated from his parents during his first visit to the City of Jerusalem, with its tall-pillared stone temple, and seated among the wise men who usually spend their time pontificating on weighty matters now listening intently to the boy who speaks so authoritatively.

He matures into the carpenter-turned-itinerant preacher with a dozen followers wandering through the countryside making pronouncements that are novel and strange to Jews and Samaritans.

He becomes the piece of meat, whipped and beaten to the edge of death, face disfigured beyond recognition, dragging His own crucifixion cross towards the garbage dump beyond the town walls where He will be hung exposed, shamed, tortured, impaled with a Roman spear, ridiculed, and suffocating.

Everyone wants Jesus to die (except a handful of followers, who misunderstood Him).

+ The Romans saw Jesus’ death as the end of a deranged nuisance in an outlying territory.

+ Jewish religious leaders considered Jesus’ death as the comeuppance of a rival and cult.

+ Satan viewed Jesus’ death as a solution to prevent fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

+ God proscribed Jesus’ death as the required sacrifice for yours and my God-belittling sinful treason against God, and as God’s substitutionary provision for Jesus to bear our punishment.

+ Jesus recognized His own death as the completion of a fully-lived totally-perfect human life, which God credits to each of us who will relinquish and renounce everything of this world in order to love, trust and obey Jesus Christ as our Lord (Master) and Savior.

Jesus ressurrects back to life on Easter Sunday, and the sovereign Jesus Christ is now sitting at the right hand of Almighty God, having completed His redemption for all who would call upon His name and who would place their entire trust upon Him and His promises.

This is THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, the God Almighty
He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End.
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and
The Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be . . .
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone.
He was bruised and brought healing.
He was pierced and eased pain.
He was persecuted and brought freedom.
He was dead and brought life.
He is risen and brings power.
He reigns and brings Peace.
The world can't understand Him,
The armies can't defeat Him,
The schools can't explain Him,
The leaders can't ignore Him.
Herod couldn't kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and
The people couldn't constrain Him.

Nero couldn't crush Him,
Hitler couldn't silence Him,
The New Age can't replace Him, and
Scientists cannot explain Him away.
He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.
His ways are right,
His Word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and
His mind is on you and me.
He is my Redeemer,
He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and
He is my peace.
He is my Joy,
He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life.

I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and
His goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
The power of the powerful,
The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers,
The leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and
The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.
He desires a personal relationship with you and me!

He will never leave me,
Never forsake me,
Never mislead me,
Never forget me,
Never overlook me, and
Never cancel my appointment in His appointment book.
When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything everybody needs; everywhere,
Every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the "father" of this world.

So, if you're wondering why I feel so secure, understand this . . .
Jesus said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side, and
That means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is Easter Day,
Reminding me that He is Emmanuel which means "God is with us" and
A blessing because Jesus Christ lives!