When God created the world, everything was perfect. There was no sin. Adam and Eve loved each other, and they loved God. There was no sickness or death. This was the way God wanted the world to be.

Then Adam and Eve sinned against God. Because they sinned, everyone on earth gets sick and everyone dies.

Because Adam and Eve sinned, something even more terrible happened. The relationship between God and people was broken by sin. But God had a plan to restore that relationship.

God sent His son Jesus, in the form of a man, to understand us and show us what He Himself is like.

Jesus went about everywhere doing good. — Helping people, loving children, healing heartaches, strengthening tired bodies, and bringing God's Love to all whom He could.

Some of the religious leaders called Pharisees became jealous. They falsely accused Jesus and conspired, successfully, to force the governor to order Jesus’ execution.

Jesus didn't have to die on the cross, but He chose to die. — For you and me!

All of us at times have done wrong and our mistakes and sins separate us from God, Who is perfect. In order to bring us to God, Jesus, the Son of God, took the punishment for our sins, that through His sacrifice, we can be forgiven and saved.

But even His death did not satisfy His jealous enemies. To ensure that His followers couldn't steal His body and claim He'd come back to life, they placed a huge stone over the entrance of His tomb and posted a group of Roman soldiers there to guard it. This was a scheme that proved futile, however, as three days after His lifeless body was laid to rest in that cold tomb, Jesus rose from the dead, the victor over death and Hell forever!

Though many great teachers have spoken and taught about love and God, Jesus is the only one who died for the sins of the world and rose from the dead.

If you haven't yet met Jesus or received His forgiveness and gift of eternal life, you can right now by praying the following:

Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price for my mistakes and wrongs, so I can be forgiven. I ask You now, dear Jesus, to please come into my heart, forgive me, and give me Your gift of eternal life. Amen.

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Art by Didier Martin. Used by permission. Text courtesy of www.openbiblestories.org and Activated magazine.