Easter...what does it really mean?

Today is Good Friday....

Why do we call it that? What is so good about Jesus death on that cross?

Why would someone who was perfect be beaten, scourged, mocked and murdered for people like us? What is this insanity?

Actually to be more correct its the Easter Weekend. and again I ask why would anyone be beaten, mocked, scourged and murdered for Me? Why would God send his son?

For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world may be saved through him. (John 3:17esv)

The story of Easter, the truth of the gospel, the unbelivable yet true account of a man who knowing he was going to suffer did so willingly so that I could be saved, so that I could be free.

But Why?

Every Easter I seem to ask myself the same question and everyyear I get a different answer. This year is no exception. But how do I even begin to explain and share my answer...

I suppose the best place to start at is the beginning of the story.

A few weeks ago a pastor in the States held a Koran burning ceremony and a mock trial. In response to this several people died and the ripples of these actions are yet unknown. My question when I heard this was, What do we do now? How do we recover from this? And many, I mean many people heard where I was at and they either sided with me, or told me to let it go.

I refused and I thought about it long and hard and this is what I came up with, and it does fit witht the whole idea of Easter.

If we are Christ-followers and we are passionate aboutt eh gospel and the message of Christ, Why are we so quick to bury our heads and allow this man to damage the message of the gospel?
Christ came to save the world, he didnt come to hobknob with the rich and the the healthy, He didn't die for nothing, He died for our freedom, becuase we needed a bridge to get back to God.

And okay I'll admit its good to see someone doing something, but it was the wrong something.

But still they idea that a man would sacrifice himself, be beaten scourged mocked and murdered only to rise again three days later, so that we can sow discord and be doormats who refuse to stand up is proposterous.

So I ask again, why did he die? and what are we going to do about it? I for one am done sitting back, I for one Am ready to stand up and be counted amongst the people who stand for teh one who gave his life so that I could live mine.

Now what does Easter mean to you?