Easter: A Time of Victory, Hope, & Life Restored

Why Easter Matters

For Christians, across the world Easter is arguably the most blessed and sacred moment our faith rests upon. It is the crux of our beliefs and why we place our hope in God. At the time of Jesus, though, nothing was clear. There were prophecies of the Messiah. There was waiting for the Messiah. There was hope the Messiah would come and rescue the Israelites from Roman oppression. And yet, the rescue God was planning was one that had begun long ago. In Eden. When sin entered the world from two human beings trying to be like God. When two human beings chose to disobey God. From that moment on, our world has been tainted by sin, death, and decay.

God’s Great Love & Plan

And yet, God didn’t leave us. His great love, the love spoken about in John 3:16, compelled Him to pursue a plan which would take thousands of human years to come to fruition. A plan which God determined–one where He would allow Jesus, the Son of God, to become human (be humbled and take on human flesh), to live fully as a human, without sin. And at the appointed time, Jesus would begin a public ministry on earth to show His power, to do miracles, so that people would believe and know He was the Son of God. Jesus was unwilling to enter into the hypocrisy of the current religious leaders who outwardly showed their “blamelessness” but inwardly allowed sinful attitudes to live. Jesus saw sin, all sin, as that which separated the person from a holy God.

Sacrifice for Sin & the Lamb of God

Jesus, who has never sinned, bore our sin so that we could become the righteousness of God. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right for Jesus who was perfect to take on all the consequences for all of humanity’s sins. In the Old Testament, an Israelite would bring a spotless, perfect lamb to atone for their sin. Other specific animals were also offered as atonement for sin. The spotless lamb being sacrificed for sin, though, points us to the spotless Messiah who would come and lay down His life for all sin. A spotless lamb—without blemish—was the sacrifice for sin. Jesus is, truly, the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (from John 1:29).

Jesus Conquered Sin & Death

Without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. Remission of sin or payment of sin must occur. Anyone who has sinned (all humans except Jesus) will pay for their sin with eternal death. But, God made a way for blood to be shed by The spotless Lamb, who is Jesus, to remit payment for what each of us owe (death) because of our own sin. Through Jesus’ surrender to an awful death He didn’t deserve and because of His sinlessness (spotlessness), He made a way for us to be reconciled to God. Jesus died and was buried for three days. On the third day, however, He rose from the grave. Jesus, who is also fully God, paid the penalty for our sin. Jesus justified us and gave us something we did not deserve–Life. The ability to choose eternal life through Jesus. He conquered sin and death through His death, burial, and subsequent, glorious, Resurrection from the grave.

The Way to Overcome Sin

Jesus made a way for us to overcome the sin we were born into, and the sin we choose to do. Sin separated us from God who is all holy. Through Jesus’ triumphant victory over sin and death, He gave us a way out. A way we don’t deserve. But, by God’s love He demonstrated that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Salvation-The Path to Eternal Life

Praise be to God for His glorious riches and gift. And so, what is required of us? We do not receive the eternal life without believing that God raised Jesus from the dead and proclaiming with our mouth that He is Lord. To share in eternal life with God forever once we leave this earth, we must accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation. We surrender our will, our heart, our life and call Him Lord. We ask Him to forgive us of our sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness. As the holy Scriptures say, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”

True Surrender & Allegiance to God

And so what does it mean for Jesus to be Lord? It means: You are Lord of my life. You are Lord of my heart. I surrender all that I am to You, Lord. Cleanse me Lord. Forgive me. Live in me and rule my life, lead me. I lay my will and choices down to You. I offer all that I am to You. I offer my allegiance to you Lord. I believe that You suffered and died. I believe You were resurrected back to life from the dead. You conquered sin and death. I trust You Lord with my life.

Thankfulness & the Power from the Holy Spirit

Thank you for saving me, Lord. I praise You. I know You live inside of me now as the Holy Spirit. I know also that I am not alone. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of me and all who have called on your name to be saved. Thank you for rescuing me from death. Thank you for loving me enough to endure all the horrific torture you did to save me. You focused on the joy set before You, the joy of relationship with those who would choose to be saved. I am grateful to be in relationship with You, God. I rejoice in Your glorious victory at Easter and all that You accomplished through Your work on the cross.

Closing Prayer

God, Thank you for bringing renewed hope and life restored at Easter. Thank you for loving us enough to make a way through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection for us to have relationship with You and eternal life. We honor and worship You. Amen.

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Blessings,

Amber