For Freedom's Sake

Last month while visiting the East Coast, I visited Fort Monroe and was intrigued with it's being referred to Freedom's Fortress because of the sanctuary it afforded slaves fleeing the South during American Civil War.

In 1861, Mary Smith Peak, the first black teacher, was hired by the American Missionary Association to teach the individuals who came to the fort for sanctuary.  This painting that resides in the Fort Monroe museum depicted the Emancipation Oak where she taught.

Freedom in this instance is a very tangible thing.  Freedom meant no longer being the property of another human being, just as Moses freed his people in Egypt from slavery, remembered each year during the Passover, commemorated throughout the world in homes and synagogs.   Passover plays a key role in the story of Christ's death and resurrection although I had no clue what it was when I heard the Easter story as a kid in Sunday school. The physical act of Moses setting the people of Israel free from slavery in Egypt foreshadowed Christ's setting his people free from the slavery of sin.  

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” - Romans 8:2

“And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” - Acts 13:39 

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” - Hebrews 2:14-15 

“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”  - Romans 6:14

Another element of the Easter story I learned as I began to earnestly study the Bible is the miracle of the open graves when bodies of holy people came out of their tombs and were seen by people living in the city at that time.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. —Matthew 27:51–53

Christ set the spirit of these holy people, who had died many years ago, free from the spiritual bondage or consequences of their sin.  None of the people living at that time would have had any awareness of the spiritual bondage these souls were experiencing and yet they were in bondage.   The bondage of our sin often isn't clear or obvious to us.  In fact, the word sin itself is a bit of a trigger word for many people.  When we see a newborn baby, we see them as innocent and yet the Bible tells us that we are all born under the curse of sin.    I often hear people tell me that people in general are basically good.  We believe that by simply living a good life that all will be well when we die.  In truth, none of us live a mistake free life.  Everyone I know has regrets of some kind, things we wish we could do over.  Christ assures us that if we are willing to receive his gift of forgiveness, that we won't be held to the consequences of our mistakes.  We will be set free from condemnation.

Because of what Christ has done for all of us in setting us free, we celebrate Him this Holy week.    

He Is Lord He Is Lord!

He Is Risen From The Dead, And He Is Lord!

Every Knee Shall Bow, Every Tongue Confess

That Jesus Christ Is Lord!