EASTER MESSAGE

From Cody Phillips

Easter bunnies, colored eggs, Lilies, budding trees, shrubs, flowers and Spring are just a few things we think about when we think of Easter. Easter icons have ancient and modern origins but their meanings do have a central focus. But first, let us digress to Good Friday because that day had significant importance for all mankind.

I attended Good Friday service at my Church and listened as we were taken through the fourteen stages of the cross. In summary, the fourteen stages of the cross is a narration of what happened to Jesus from His trial to Him being crucified, taken from the cross and laid in His grave. It is from several different bystander perspectives. How horrible it must have been at that moment in time to witness Him being convicted of crimes He did not commit. He was ridiculed, spit upon, beaten, humiliated, subjected to horrible torture and then as a witness you watch Him die while hanging from a cross. The hardest part of the fourteen stages was the taking a nail and hammering it into a cross. I found myself not wanting to do it. I felt guilty as if I was a part of His undoing. Then I realized that His sacrificing of His life was the saving of mine. He did this for me and for the world. For anyone who has seen “The Passion of the Christ”, one cannot come away from watching that movie without feeling an insurmountable amount of compassion and sadness for what Jesus went through. The sadness is immeasurable.

His dying on the cross had to happen but it wasn’t the end by any means. It formed a part of a new beginning. Without His dying we could not have His Resurrection. Both had to happen. Easter bunnies, colored eggs, Lilies, budding trees, shrubs, flowers and Spring. All these things are symbols of newness, new beginnings, a restart and new season of hope. All things have passed and everything is starting anew. And so it is for the true meaning of Easter. God gave us His Son to die for us. God loves us that much. He wants us to know that no matter what trials and tribulations we face in this world there is a new beginning awaiting all of us if we believe. Can we endure what Jesus went through as long as He had to endure it? Probably not. But He overcame all and beat death.

I think we can all agree that we and our world are in turmoil, uncertainty and fear of the future. We face many obstacles and adversity. However, standing united in faith, dedication and perseverance, we can overcome those things we face and we can do it together. There is always hope. Yes, we are not perfect. No one is perfect but we can strive to do good. We can work on revealing the truth as best we can. We can serve as a light for those in darkness. Jesus set us free and gave us hope through His resurrection. We can all thank God for that freedom.

On the third day He walked out from His grave and all began anew.

To our CSC family - may God bless you and yours this Easter Season. May God continue to bless our Nation. May your life be full of His goodness. Remember that no matter what trials we may face, He will always be there with us going forward.

Cody Phillips

Interim President,

Common Sense Campaign, Tea Party