What does this Resurrection day mean to Christians? Everything. Christ's resurrection means EVERYTHING to us.

All that we believe, all that we hope, all that we trust-everything was on Jesus: when He hung on the Cross, when He was Buried, and all praise to God-when He Rose.

From the dying lips of Jesus, from His raging-thirst-dried-mouth, in the midst of excruciating pain, even though being crushed by the horrors of sin and death and the pains of hell-Jesus carefully and clearly speaks.

What was the very first subject that Jesus introduces to us from His cross? He offers Forgiveness. In what is accepted by all as Christ's first word from the Cross, we can hear Christ's heart of compassion: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  Luke 23:34

When Jesus speaks to those surrounding Him on the Cross, it is actually us hearing Him praying something over and over. Those within earshot, those in the close circle of the Cross heard Jesus pray over these words of compassion. I think Jesus may even have started these words as they spiked His Hands and Feet, as they roughly propped Him upright.

To both the soldiers who would hear, and the criminals on either side: it was the cry of our Savior's heart to those who were there, so they could know that He offered them full and complete forgiveness.

To those criminals and soldiers surrounding Him, who were just everyday sinners living their lives, and swept into the greatest crime ever committed, Jesus said: Father, don't hold this crime of mocking me (the thieves) and crucifying me (the soldiers) against them.

It is interesting that this prayer was answered before our eyes. One thief and one soldier of the group at His feet take His offer of forgiveness that very day.

        Do YOU Have Christ's Complete Forgiveness?

Forgiveness is the miracle that I have personally experienced. It is the greatest of all Christ's miracles: complete forgiveness.

Always remember that God freely offers His love through Christ, to sinners.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus offered then, and offers now-forgiveness. Christ's prayer from the Cross makes His forgiveness available to every sinful human, but not all will avail themselves of it. Forgiveness must be accepted as well as given.

This Resurrection day have you believed, accepted, and experienced the forgiveness of Jesus Christ offered to you a sinful human? If so, you've been born again, and with God you have no past, just a future.

To continue reading about what else Christ spoke from the Cross, please click here.