Easter

Colossians 2:13-14; 1 Peter 3:18; Matthew 27:50-53

What does Easter mean you? Does it mean pretty clothes, plenty of good food with friends and neighbors, attending Easter parades, or attending early morning worship services? Does it mean taking a reflective look at what the Lord Jesus done for humanity?

Well, let’s look at what Jesus done for humanity out of love for us in complete obedience to His father. Just last (Psalm) Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an untamed donkey and the crowd cried Hosanna and spreaded their garment in His path, but on that Friday that same crowd cried crucify Him. This meant they took our Saviour to an unjust court and found Him guilty of unjust sins; however, the crowd wanted Jesus crucified instead of Barabbas, the guilty one. This was in God’s plan to bring salvation to His people.

According to Colossians 2:13,14 God have forgiven us for all our sins and blotted out the hand writing of the ordinances(Law of Moses) for everything that was against us (paraphrased) This was done through Jesus’ death on Calvary’s cross. 1 Peter 3:18 reminds us how Christ suffered for humanity’s sins reconciling us back to God. The reconciliation process was performed at Calvary and the many hours our Saviour suffered atrocious pain in our place is enough to make us eternally grateful. Through it all, our Saviour hung there; “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried in a loud voice, My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me (Matthew 27:46). It was about this time that Jesus experience separation from God, the Father, as the sinners’ substitute. Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb required by God. God had to turn His back on His Son because He could not look on sin and the Son had taken on the sins of the world and this was the first time the Son had been forsaken by His father. Another school of thought is that Jesus became the forsaken so that humanity would never be forsaken. What love? This means we are redeemed by the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Allow the author to move to the tenth and final suffering of Jesus Christ, which is where He says, “It is finish,” (John 19:30) signifies that Jesus’ redemptive works was complete. Humanity’s debt was marked paid in full and the plan of salvation established. Scripture tell us that at this time Jesus prayed His final prayer, which was, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Matthew 27:51 tell us that the veils were torn from top to bottom, meaning that we can go to God in prayer for ourselves for all who believe in Jesus Christ. Another mighty event occurred that day was an earthquake and even the rocks did rent. O! What an event?

I have often heard ministers refer to this event as the earth “reeling and rocking as a drunken man,” or “the earth getting drunk that Friday.” However it is referred it was a spectular event, all under God, the Father’s control. Also, history bares record that the sun refused to shine during Christ’s dying hours and it became dark as midnight at high noon.

One may think the above event was enough to say glory, wait; verses 52 and 53 speak of the graves opening and the saints rose and went into the holy city of Jerusalem after His resurrection. What does this tell us about our resurrection? Just as those saints rose after Jesus’ resurrection, we will rise when He returns for all those who believe in Him. We died with Him on Friday and rose with Him on Sunday morning. Therefore, Easter/Resurrection Sunday underscores two important meanings in the believer’s life, (1) Resurrection Sunday is the culmination of God’s plan on the earth to free the world of sin, (2) it underscores the fact that Christ’s resurrection assures us of eternal life (Townsend Press Sunday School Publishing Board). Has He risen in your life?

Praises! Christ is alive. He rose with all power in His hand.