Happy Easter! I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful Easter weekend with your family!
Easter holds a special place in my heart as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith in Jesus, setting it apart from all other religions. Who else conquered the grave and offers the promise of a resurrected life? As Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
C.S. Lewis astutely pointed out that Jesus must either be the Son of God as he claimed, or he is a liar and/or a lunatic. In asking his disciple Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus prompts each of us to answer the same question. If you're undecided, I encourage you to explore the Easter story in the book of John, especially chapters 17-21!
As I was answering the question of who Jesus is for myself, I found it worth noting that nearly all of Jesus' disciples were martyred for their belief in his resurrection and ascension to heaven. They witnessed these events firsthand, not merely heard them as stories. It's one thing to die for belief in a story you've been told, but quite another to die for what you know to be a lie.
The most significant moment in my life was accepting Jesus as the Son of God, surrendering to him, and receiving his free gift of salvation. It transformed my priorities and gave deeper meaning to some of my favorite words from Jesus, "I came not to be served but to serve." While I often fall short, my faith empowers me to repent, get up, and follow him. His example of servanthood has inspired my commitment to service.
In my past public service, and in hopeful future service, I've encountered many friends of different faiths or no faith at all. Yet, my love for them remains unchanged. My desire is to follow in the example of Jesus, who loved all deeply, regardless of their beliefs. My belief that we’re all created by God in his image causes me to see everyone as family, albeit some more distantly related. It also fuels my enjoyment of meeting people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives during my campaigns. Even though we may passionately disagree on solutions, we’re still family!
Because He lives,
