Easter Tree (part 3)

The Cross, the real Easter tree. Six hours. One Friday. That day in history changed the world forever.
This is an excerpt taken from Max Lucado "And the Angels were Silent"

Pilate wants to let Jesus go. Just give me a reason he thinks, almost aloud. I'll set you free.
His thoughts are interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. A messenger leans and whispers. Strange. Pilate's wife has sent word not to get involved the case. Something about a dream she had. Pilate walks back to his chair, sits, and stares at Jesus. "Even the gods are on your side?" he states with no explanation....
How many wide eyes have stared at him, pleading for mercy, begging for acquittal? But the eyes of this Nazarene are calm, silent....
He's not angry with me. He's not afraid...he seems to understand...
"What should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ?"...
What do you do with a man who claims to be God, yet hates religion?...What do you do with a man who knows the place and time of his death, yet goes there anyway?...
You can reject him...
Or you can accept him. You can journey with him. You can listen for his voice amidst the hundreds of voices and follow him.

This Easter in the midst of all the family, traditions, egg hunts, lets not forget the reason we have this holiday. I was a sinner condemmed to die, but Jesus came and took my place. How painful those hours before his death must have been for him, but he faced them with love and conviction, he willingly gave up his life for me.