It’s the Easter season, and President Trump just called Jesus “Lord.”
Every year, during the Easter season, people around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nearly two thousand years ago, on the first Easter morning, the Lord Jesus rose early on the day he walked out of that famous tomb. Anybody can die. That’s easy. But getting up out of the grave, now that’s not easy to do. But Jesus did it and we still celebrate that earth-shattering accomplishment all these years later. It’s the central part of God’s story. Without the resurrection of Christ, there’s no good news to God’s story.
Easter, the resurrection, is the centerpiece of it all. Since Jesus proved that he can conquer death, he assured us that he will defeat death for all of us who trust in him.
And that brings me to a surprising announcement from Donald Trump. He gave a brief announcement regarding Easter celebrations around the world. In the announcement, he seemed to claim Jesus is in fact his Lord and Savior. Yep, you read that correctly. I didn’t stutter or mistype anything.
I may be wrong, but I have a strong feeling that President Trump has finally given in to the pressure. Christians surround Trump. They have ever since the 2016 election. Out of the ever-watchful eye of the “Fake news” media, Christians are influencing Mr. Trump. And if my hunch is correct, God has made a big change in the billionaire television star.
John 11:25
Easter is about a new life.
If President Trump has become a Christian, we can be sure of one thing.
He’s still a filthy rotten sinner just like the rest of us. But, if he’s a repentant Christian then he’s been forgiven. We don’t need to concern ourselves with the past, present, or future sins of Mr. Trump. If you expect the Lord to forgive your sins, then he can forgive the President’s sins also.
Mr. Trump will make mistakes and so will you and me. The Lord started over when he rose from the grave. He wasn’t a sinner, but he died in order to make a way of salvation for those of us who are. In this article, I’ll point you to a couple of women who were filthy rotten sinners.
I mean really filthy.
Jesus loved them and was willing to forgive them. It makes Trump’s sins pale in comparison when we look at the women. Or one of them at least. And that woman has become the most famous “Easter Sunday” woman of all time. Mr. Trump likes to claim things like, “The greatest ever.” But even he can’t claim the title of greatest sinner ever. At least one of the women I’ve written about has Donald beat. By a few demons at least.
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who have a part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Is this good news or very bad news?
This is bad news. If Trump is a Christian, the people who hate him will have more reasons to hate him. He is perhaps one of the most hated men who has ever lived. But Jesus has far surpassed him for the all-time record in that department.
Now, I want to be clear. I don’t know if the President is a sincere Christian. Or if he claims that. But the words in his mouth indicated he possibly is.
You decide for yourself. And when you do, let me know.
President Trump announced the Easter celebration.
Follow the link below to read and hear what President Trump said about Easter. Shocked you will be, as Yoda would say. I was.
President Trump announces online-church- and live stream-services-easter-Sunday
The following three lines are an exact quote from President Trump as he announced his recognition of the Easter celebration.
“Well thank you very much. On this Good Friday, Christians from all around the world remember the suffering and death upon the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. At Easter Sunday, we will celebrate His glorious resurrection. At this holy time, our nation is engaged in a battle like never before.”
And here’s another quote, word for word. The words you’ll read below came directly from the mouth of the famous billionaire playboy.
“We can use this sacred time to focus on prayer, reflection, and growing in our personal relationship with God. So important.”
So you decide. Do you think Donald Trump is a forgiven sinner? Or are his sins so great that Jesus can’t forgive him?
While you decide…
Let’s look at a couple of famous sinners. One of them played a leading role in the first Easter.
The famous woman of Easter–Mary Magdalene
“Mary Magdalene” is a famous historical figure who played a key role in the first Easter. She was the first person to see Jesus on the first Easter morning. Knowing God’s character as I do from reading the scriptures, I know the Lord planned to have a person like Mary Magdalene fulfill this important role in history. You see, Mary was not a good person. At least, not until she met Jesus. But meeting Jesus changed everything for Mary. And for the world also.
The following verse is where Bible readers are first introduced to Mary Magdalene.
Luke 8: 1-3 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him. And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons. And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.”
Seven demons
There were seven demons living inside of Mary. Wow! She was not the type of person you’d want to spend an afternoon with. I can easily imagine that she was hated and feared by most or all who knew her. Seven demons are seven more demons than I would ever want living inside of me. Mary survived that tough episode in her life. God had big plans for her.
From that point of the story, in the biblical narrative, we don’t read a lot about her until Easter morning. Then she shines brightly again, but it’s helpful to see how Luke led the reader to see the importance of Mary Magdalene in God’s storyline.
It’s too beautiful to ignore, so let’s back up to the previous chapter and take a look.
In chapter seven of Luke, we see a pompously arrogant Pharisee who seems bothered that Jesus spends time with sinful people. That’s what Jesus does. The proud Pharisee considered himself worthy of attention so he asked Jesus to come to his house to share a meal. Well, Jesus wasn’t the only person to show up to the meal. Another woman, famously sinful of course, snuck up behind Jesus during the meal.
She began to weep.
The Bible describes her as a “sinner.” We can imagine what kind of a sinner she was. The Pharisees apparently knew her all too well. He noticed her behind Jesus when her weeping became uncontrollable. Many of us know the story. The flow of tears was so heavy that she used it to soak her hair and clean Jesus’ feet. She had oil with her. She used it to anoint the Lord’s feet. The Pharisees were offended that Jesus allowed the sinful woman to touch him.
Here’s the passage.
Before Easter, a Sinful Woman was Forgiven
Luke 7: 36-50Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down to eat.
37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil.
38And stood at His feet behind Him weeping. And she began to wash His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head, and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying. “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”
Do you see that sinful woman?
44Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave Me no water for My feet. But she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.
46You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
47Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Just sinners like the rest of us.
Luke placed this story of the sinful woman just ahead of his introduction of another sinful woman, Mary Magdalene. It’s a common theme in the Gospels. Jesus loves sinners. He loves them so much, they want to be near him. They want him to be their best friend.
And yet, proud people like the pharisee, can’t seem to understand why Jesus likes sinners. But if you’re a sinner like the one who cried many tears into her hair. Or like Mary who housed seven demons inside her. Or even the bombastic President of the United States of America. Be comforted. If you’re a sinner like them, Jesus loves you, and can and will overlook your sins if you are willing to repent.
Luke 6:37
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Let me know what you think.