EASTER MESSAGE OF HOPE AND CHANGE - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY

Throughout this political year we have been bombarded with speeches, commercials and commentary about, "hope and change." Differing versions of who can and how much , "hope, " one candidate can offer. Differing versions of what type and how much , "change, " that another candidate will bring.

In the political arena this is to be expected and depending on ones political persuasion then we as Americans will choose our candidate based on our personal beliefs and whether that candidate has convinced us that their message of , "hope, " and , "change, " best fits with our view on the issues and our own conscience.

More than 2000 years ago a, " Man, " came to this Earth with a message of , "hope, " and , "change, " that even during His time on this planet sparked controversy and even political discord between the ruling Empire of Rome and their conquered land and people found in Judea. This, "Man, " brought with Him a message that has lasted through the ages. A Message that speaks to all mankind of , "hope, " for the hopeless and , "change, " even for the vilest of people.

His was not a message that was given for political gain. Nor was it shared to bring fame and position for Himself. His message was shared for the most selfless of motives....love. The message of hope and change that was shared with this World by this , "Man, " came from the Creator of all men though the life, death and Resurrection of our Creators Son. It was and still is a message of hope and change given only from pure , sacrificial and true love with its only reward for that love being the salvation of the World and the redemption of man.

This, "Man, " delivered His message of hope and change and it was received by many and rejected by many. A situation that this eternal message still finds in the World today more than 2000 years later. While He walked this Earth, this, "Man, " selflessly gave not only His message but Himself in order to insure that His selfless message of love would BE eternal. His reward for sharing this selfless message of hope and change was to face the cruelest of deaths that a cruel world has ever devised, nailed to a cross.

But He did not face this death forcibly. No He faced it willingly and lovingly because He knew that the only way to insure that His message of hope and change would last for all mankind was by giving His live in exchange for those to whom He was giving this loving message. It was for this that He came and it was for this that He died.

But this message of hope and change does not end there. No it ends, nay I should say actually begins with an empty tomb. For His message of hope and change shines from that empty tomb for all mankind that came before His time on earth, those to whom He personal delivered the message and we who have followed in the last 2000 years.

His sacrifice for giving this message on the cruel cross when one believes in that message of love that He gave from that cross can provide anyone from any walk of live, whether good or bad, vial or moral, change that will reshape that individual and reconcile them with a loving God who sent this , "Man, " for them.

The empty tomb that He left as He resurrected from the death on that cruel cross, provides hope that there is more to life than misery and woe but salvation that brings life eternal through the sacrifice, and resurrection of this, "Man, " who God our Creator called Son and in whom all things are possible.

As we each celebrate this Easter season as we may, remember that true hope and change comes from the love that was shared with each of us from a cross to a tomb and life springs eternal for everyone because of the Christ who came and shared the real and loving message of hope and change. Happy Easter to all.

Ken Taylor