The Lord gave me this vision
about 10 years ago and I went to the store and looked for items so that I could
create His Easter Basket that he offers everyone who will accept it. Many years
ago when our savior went to that garden and prayed a prayer that caused sweat
as great drops of blood yet He still accepted what He was born for and went to
that cross. John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten son , that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
The Basket: Stands for the tree
that was fashioned from the tree upon which he hung; Acts
5:30 – the God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a
tree. It blooms every April around Easter time and the petals from this
flowering tree is in a shape of the cross with two long and two short, the
center as the crown of thorns, and the holes at the petals’ edges can remind us
of the nail prints in Christ’s hands and feet with the stains from the blood He
shed for us all. There are people that say this was not the tree that he hung
on because of its shape or thickness of its trunk and that it does not grow in the
Middle East.
Jesus put gift items in the
basket to remind us of His great love for us.
Hay: Represents the bed upon which
He lay when He was born in that stable so long ago; Luke
2:7 – and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid Him in a manger.
The White Coat: This coat was worn
by Jesus as he walked upon the earth doing His father’s work and it also
represents the pure in heart for he was an innocent man that chose to take on
the sins of this whole world and was stained by his blood as He walked that
impossible mile to the hill; John 19:23-24 – Then the
soldiers had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four part; and also
his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. Let us not
rend it but cast lots for it, whose it shall be…
Blood Stains: There is also a red
piece of cloth in this basket to represent the blood stains as his flesh was
ripped from his body taking the 39 stripes for our healing; James 5:14-15 – Is any sick among you? Let him call for the
elders of the church, and them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed any sins, they shall be forgiven
him.
The Purple Robe: Purple has always
stood for royalty so when Jesus was going through ridicule, pain, and abuse
during his trial they clothed him in a purple robe to mock him but for us it
only continues to fulfill the scriptures; Mark 15:17 – and
they clothed him with purple.
The Crown of Thorns: Stands for our
peace of mind, it represents the battles we fight daily in our minds; Ephesians 6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, and rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Matthew 27:29 – and when they had plaited a
crown of thorns, they placed it upon his head, and a reed in his hand: and they
bowed before him and mocked him saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Three Nails: These three nails
stands for our scars of freedom, usually when the Romans crucified someone they
tide them with rope to the cross but this time they chose to use nails. These
were not just some small nail they were big, long and strong thereby causing a big
and permanent hole in the hands and feet of Jesus which is how Thomas was able
to put his finger into the scars of Jesus’ hand. This also symbolizes the
ordinances that are brought against us and took them away and nailed them to
the cross through Jesus; Colossians 2:13-14 – And you
being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out… and took
it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
Blood & Water: These represent
our baptism with water and the cleansing of our soul through his blood; when
the soldier pierced Jesus’ side to see if he was dead it wasn’t blood that
flowed from his side but there was also water, they flowed together yet they
were separate. It was done this way to show us that there is two baptisms that
we must follow, the first is through a repented heart when he forgives us of
our sins and through the baptism of water and it through these two baptisms
that he washes and cleanses us. John 19:34 –but one of
the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood
and water.
Dove: Now on the handle at the top
of this basket he placed a dove and she represents the Holy Ghost. When Jesus
went to John the Baptist to be baptized there came out from heaven the and it
descended upon him and we can have the same gift from heaven and to receive the
Holy Ghost is the most wonderful gift we could ever hope to receive in our
lifetime. If Jesus had to receive the Holy Ghost before he could go forward
with his work for God and to be able to go through all he did with the trial,
the beating, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. I do not even want to
consider taking a step in this world with his sweet Holy Ghost to lead, guide,
and keep me safe in his arms; Luke 3:21-22 – now when
all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized,
and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily
shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art
my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
So remember each year when Easter
comes around that it is not just a day of egg hunts, dinner on the ground,
pretty hats or colorful new clothes but it is a celebration that Jesus loved us
much that He went through complete pain, torture, and abuse because He wanted
us to have a chance to be redeemed and to live with him forever in heaven; it
is his gift to us. Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace ye are
saved through faith…it is the gift of God
Written By: Karen ReNee
April 2013
