Do you know the hymn “And Can It Be?” It was written by Charles Wesley shortly after his conversion on May 21, 1738. Wesley was well-versed in the Bible, but he had not yet experienced true personal conversion. When he finally did, the words of this hymn flowed out onto the page as he was overwhelmed by grace. This hymn encapsulates the story of Easter, the message of the gospel, and the assurance that comes from trusting in the promise of salvation.
Easter is just around the corner, and we will celebrate with our traditional “Sonrise Service” at 8 a.m. and Sunday worship at 11 a.m. This service will also include the celebration of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. It is a time when we intentionally remember what happened during the final week of Jesus’ life.
It can be easy to go through the motions. You might hear familiar passages about the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, the arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, and even the resurrection without being moved. This mirrors Charles Wesley’s experience before his conversion. He was familiar with the gospel message and understood the significance of Easter, but the message had never truly impacted him. This April, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on what the message of Easter truly conveys. By contemplating why Jesus went to the cross and what occurred there, you may experience a renewed joy about Easter.
If you need help understanding the significance of Easter, I encourage you to examine the words of the hymn “And Can It Be.” The first stanza highlights that Christ shed His blood for you, the very one who would have been in the crowd calling for His crucifixion. The second stanza expresses how mysterious the gospel can be; even the angels cannot comprehend why God would choose to redeem the world in this manner. Stanza three continues to underscore the incredible nature of the gospel message, showing how Jesus left the throne room of heaven to save helpless individuals.
In the fourth stanza, Wesley recounts his conversion experience. Once he truly understood the gospel message, he felt set free, as if released from a dungeon. He had lived in darkness and despair, bound by sin and guilt until the quickening of his spirit illuminated his life with the gospel’s light. The final stanza bursts forth in praise: “No condemnation now I dread! Clothed in righteousness divine! Bold I approach the eternal throne!”
Charles Wesley moved from darkness to light, from condemnation to salvation, and from bondage to freedom. This transformation ties the entire hymn together with the refrain:
“Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, should die for me?”
The story of Easter is truly remarkable. Jesus Christ willingly came to die for you. He laid down His life so that your penalty for sin would be paid, resolved, and wiped away. This Easter, make the story personal. Take time to contemplate how wonderful it is that Jesus came to die for you. Only then can you genuinely rejoice in such amazing love!
