I recently found out that some of my grandchildren had not been to see sap boiled in a New England sugar house. So, I made the decision to take them.

A friend has a sugar house and yesterday after checking with him, I found out what time they would begin boiling. Determining that, we headed out a short time later. As we went up the hill to the small farm, my mind flashed to times in my life where I had helped to gather sap, get it to the sugar house and spend way too many hours to develop what many call “liquid gold”. (I love the taste.)

We parked the car and got out. Smoke and steam was coming off the small sugar house. (The smell was sweet.) The children immediately saw animals and wanted to visit with them as well. The trip revealed to them many things about farm life, including all animals are not pets and may be eaten.

You may think this is “harsh”, but I have known people who did not know eggs came from a chicken or thought “why do you have kill animals for meat? Why can’t you just get meat like other people at the grocery store?” Hmmm…Let me think about that.

Today is Easter or the celebration of Jesus and His resurrection from the grave. The celebration of life and life restored. But in the words of small child, “how did He get dead?” The reality of it is He suffered a cruel death upon a cross, taking you and I with Him. (Galatians 2:20) As a friend shared this week. “I am glad I died 2,000 years ago. I am glad it only last a few days!”

But just as some believe the purchase of steak is without pain, so do many believe that the walk of Jesus and His followers was without pain and do not know of His death. (Matthew 27:32-56)

We are told in the scriptures that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

Without the shedding of blood there can be no meat at the table.[pullquote]A man who does not know this history is like a leaf without knowledge of being part of a tree.[/pullquote]

Jesus had to die to shed His blood that you and I might have remission of sin. Upon the cross, our old man was crucified. Once and for evermore. That blood stained cross was important to our life and the life we get to live. (Galatians 6:17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.)

Many years ago I was on the board of a panel that was bringing in Luis Palau. The first major “evangelistic outreach” in many a year. I remember that Billy Graham had not been allowed to preach there many years prior to that, because the college administration at the time did not want a “bloody religion” preached on their campus.

Just as I want my children to learn the origins of the meat on the table, I want the world to know the origin of the freedom. The history of how food comes to our table is important to our respect and our understanding. (And perhaps to our health!) The history of how our great freedom in Christ is far more important.

One of the things that I often think about is along the lines Paul’s thinking in Romans 10:14, But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

People may well believe their goodness is enough, but clearly that is not what we are told in the scriptures. Just like lack of knowledge in the food chain is a deception, I believe we are in need of clearing the air about Jesus. His love, His goodness and His mercy towards us. That required a bloody cross and the death of a man, found in Jesus.

I am more convinced than ever the knowledge of Christ and Christ crucified is the answer to change. A man who does not know this history is like a leaf without knowledge of being part of a tree.

On this celebration of Jesus and His resurrection, I simply say, “thank you for the death you took, for the blood you shed, for the people you love.”

[tweetthis hidden_hashtags=”#ANewDayDawning”]Let us celebrate His glorious resurrection and live the life He has for us![/tweetthis]