Once for All

It has been a great start to the year and I am so thankful to the Emmaus community for welcoming me in with open arms. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know staff, students and families and gain a greater appreciation for the special culture this amazing community has. The source of our community’s tremendous sense of purpose and belonging is founded in Jesus.

As we get closer to Easter, I encourage you to take the time over a meal to discuss the significance of Easter to your life and that of your family. In a time where things around us are so rushed and temporary, we have hope in a cornerstone that is strong, reliable, unchanging and everlasting. In fact, we have full assurance of the completeness of what Jesus achieved at that first Easter.

In Hebrews 10:10 we read how, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”. This was no temporary fix or patch up job. Jesus’ work at the cross has fully and completely restored us as children of our loving and good God. He desires rich and meaningful relationship with us and went to every effort to make this possible through Jesus. It was so complete that Jesus did something to symbolize this that no other a Jewish high priest would ever do.

"He sat" (Hebrews 10:12).

Priests did their work standing as a symbol that their work was never finished, that sacrifices were always required. The tabernacle and temple didn’t even have seats! Jesus was different. When you read the Easter story, sit, and listen to his final words at the cross (John 19:30).

And in response, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess....And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:22-24)

If you are new to our community or have never really experienced the true meaning of Easter and the hope we have in Jesus, I encourage you to attend one of the many Easter services occurring in local churches. Ask what this all means for you and your family living in 2019 and open your heart to receive a gift more special and more sweet than chocolate.

God bless

Jonathan Carpenter
Head of Middle School