Easter Message from Pastor Raymond Woodward

Welcome to tonights show.  Easter is always the holiday where there seems to be so much division.  I know that Easter came from what was a pagan holiday.  The church in Rome accepted these pagan holidays into their church.  The church of Rome approaced the Apostle Polycarp who was a follower of the apostle John.  He was also established as the Bishop of Smyrna by the apostle John.  The church of Rome wanted Polycarp to accept their holidays into his teaching of the new church.  To be specific, they wanted him to move the feast of passover to follow their new Easter celebration that fell on Sunday following the full moon of the spring equinox.  Polycarp informed them, that the passover would be celebrated on Nisan 15th no matter what day it fell on.  Which gets confusing because it is a one week long celebration. This year on our calander it would have started April 5th.  The church of Rome saw they could not control Polycarp and the final straw was when he refused to burn incense to honor the roman emporer and refused to denounce Jesus.  After allowing him to perform communion in their church.  The honor was meant to change his mind.  It did not! They burned him at the stake, and when he did not burn they pierced him with a spear and the blood put out the fire.  HIs last words were," I bless you father for judging me worthy of this hour. So, that in the company of mytars I may share the cup of Christ.  What is confusing it that Polycarp is listed as a saint among the catholic church.  Pastor Raymond Woodward is bringing us our Easter show this year from a live service.  We pray that it stirs you as it did us.  As always you are welcome to share a comment or ask a question at the end of the show.  Just push the number one on your phone and I will identify you by the last four digits of your phone number when I place you on.