Telling the Story of Jesus Victory
The German tradition of decorating trees with eggs for Easter is centuries old but its exact origins are unknown. The egg is an ancient symbol of new life all over the world. No matter how dark the winter of your soul has been, the One who created everything good has the power to re-create us with a new life rich in peace and hope for a brighter future.
Each Easter Tree in front of OAC is decorated with unique colours to tell the story of how Jesus is the promise and proof of new life.
Tag your photos @oacvancouver #eastertrees to be entered into a draw for an Easter celebration gift basket!
Enter a guess of how many eggs were used to decorate these trees and we will mail you a gift certificate.
Hosanna!
It’s springtime, and the promise of new life is on full display with sounds and scents of animated hope. The Jewish leaders reject Jesus as a rebel but the people give Him a royal welcome. The way is packed with travellers who have come to celebrate Passover. Unprepared for this spontaneous parade, they carpet the path with their own coats and wave green palm fronds and leafy olive branches as they shout “Hosana, to the son of David!” With sharp sight those once blind now navigate the rocky road, running ahead of the colt He rides. They who had been silent raise the loudest voices in song. The disabled bodies restored by His touch jump with joy! Jesus had previously avoided such attention. He knew this escort would not lead to a throne but the cross. The procession ends as the sun sets over Judea. In Christ’s view was the sheep’s gate and the gleaming white and gold pillars of the Temple. Beyond the city walls shadows lengthen over Calvary’s hill. Jesus fully understood His destiny as the Messiah. He was here, the Word of Life, to die as the Lamb of God.
Read it for yourself:
- Matt. 21:1-11
- Luke 19:36-40
Remember
The Passover feast was a time honoured tradition commemorating Israel’s final night under Egyptian oppression. On that historic evening, God’s people passed under lamb’s blood painted on their doorposts. It was a gesture of trust in the plan to save them from the plague of death that passed over the land. Centuries later the One who handed Moses the symbols of deliverance held them out to His disciples as Jesus introduced a new liturgy. “This bread is my body, broken for you. Take it and remember me.” “This cup is my blood poured out for your forgiveness. Drink it and remember me.” We keep the Lord’s Supper to celebrate our rescue from the chains of sin. We repeat His words as we consume the bread and sip the burgundy juice. In that moment Jesus fulfilled the ancient promises and declared another. He would not enjoy this meal again until it can be shared with all God’s people, reunited around heaven’s table. “Until He comes” we savour it in His honour, remember the self-sacrificing love that paid the wages for our sin.
Read it for yourself:
- Matt. 26:26-29
- Luke 22:14-20
Sorrow
Charged with two offenses: blasphemy in the eyes of the Jews and insurrection in the eyes of the Romans.
Treated as guilty before His innocence was established. Jesus is shamed, humiliated, beaten, mocked, and spat upon by His own people. Many who just days prior had shouted their hosannas now scream “crucify him!” As He hung from that dreadful cross Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them for they don’t really know what they are doing.” It was a prayer for all of humanity past, present and future. We are all guilty of crucifying the Son of God but in turn we are all offered forgiveness. They had stripped Him of His clothes but not of His power to love and forgive. The sky darkens so that His suffering may be shrouded from exploitive entertainment. After hours of suffocating agony His heart breaks under the weight of hatred. It is finished. As dusk approaches His body is taken to the garden tomb. No Saturday had been a sadder day.
Read it for yourself:
Luke 23:26-56
John 19:16-42
He's Alive!
As dawn lit the sky, an earthquake shook the world and the stone sealing the tomb rolled aside. A flash of glory split the sky and the bravest Roman guarding the grave fainted. Angels stood ready and waiting to welcome the Prince of Heaven back to life. Out of the darkness of the cave stepped Jesus Messiah. In Jesus the eternal life that we lost because of sin can be restored. Death is just a sleep, a moment of dark, silent rest for the soul. Jesus was evidence that those who died believing in the power and love of God would be raised to new life on resurrection day when He returns. At His second coming all of His children will hear His voice and it it will elevate them to a glorious future without end. “Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning!” Psalm 30:5.
Read it for yourself:
- Luke 24:1-12