Easter is the most important event and is the foundation in the life of a Christian. It is not just a holiday with bunnies and Easter egg hunts, it is about God’s plan to redeem humankind through Jesus Christ. Let’s look at a couple of questions and answer them:
- Why did Jesus have to die?
- What did His death accomplish?
- Why does His resurrection matter?
Jesus had to die because sin separated us from God. When Adam and Eve sinned, it caused a separation from God for all humanity. Mankind could not fix this on its own.
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans chapter 6 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Sin had entered the world through Adam and Eve, and sin separated us from God. Since we were separated from Him, we deserved to die because sin was in us.
Romans 6:23 (NASB)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Notice that Jesus is a FREE gift. Even though we deserved to die, our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He had to do something about it. So He sent Jesus to take our place.
John 3:16 (NASB)
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
1 Peter 2:24 (NASB)
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Jesus didn’t just die physically, He bore the punishment that we deserved. I am using a lot of scriptures, because of the truth that is in them.
Isaiah 53:5 (NASB)
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Jesus was pierced with a sword, and he was whipped and beaten, literally beyond recognition, because of our sins.
The word, chastening, means to take on punishment. He took the punishment that we deserved. He did this for our well-being (peace), and not only our peace, but by Him taking all the whipping and scouring on His body, He gave us healing. So many people are trying to get healing, but Jesus already took it so that we don’t have to try to get it. It’s a DONE DEAL; END OF STORY! The best part is that He did this for us while we were still sinners. God’s plan is love. His plan is for everyone to receive salvation, but unfortunately, not everyone will, because He loves us so much that He gives US the choice.
Romans 5:8 (CJB)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in that the Messiah died on our behalf while we were still sinners.
Jesus died on our behalf. Wow! I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful that I don’t have to take the punishment that I deserved. Notice I said, “Deserved”, with an “ed” on the end. Once we are born-again, we are no longer sinners because what Jesus did on the cross, made us righteous and worthy. Everything necessary for salvation was accomplished.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Jesus was buried and was resurrected. The resurrection proves everything that Jesus said and did:
- He is the Son of God
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The sacrifice was accepted
Matthew 28:6 (NASB)
6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
1 Corinthians 15:17 (NASB)
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
I don’t know about you, but I know that Jesus is alive!!! Otherwise, my faith is worthless! The resurrection gave us NEW LIFE! Easter is about VICTORY!!! Because He lives, we live.
I want to end with the following scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (NASB)
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spring happens to be my favorite time of the year because everything is coming back to life and it reminds me so much of Easter and the newness of life that Jesus gave us.
So in closing, I want to say,
IT IS FINISHED!
“HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY”!!!