Easter: It’s All About Jesus

What do you think about when you hear the word Easter? Does your mind entertain thoughts of springtime, bunny rabbits, and colored eggs? When I was a little girl, Easter was an opportunity to get a new dress and new shoes, maybe even a new hat and pretty white gloves. I always looked forward to getting my Easter Sunday outfit. And Mom would color Easter eggs for my brothers and me to find.

But I also remember hearing the story of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those of us who grew up in the church have heard the account many times. Don’t let the familiarity of the story cause you to lose sight of the wonderful salvation provided for us. Let’s review what happened:

· Mankind was lost, separated from God with no hope of redemption.

· Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, God’s only begotten Son, was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life.

· Jesus willingly offered Himself to die by crucifixion, taking our sins to the cross with Him.

· After three days in a borrowed tomb, Jesus arose from the dead.

· Because Jesus lives, we can accept Him into our hearts, be saved from our sins, and live eternally with Him.

No matter what kind of life you have lived, Christ died for you. You are not beyond redemption. You are not beyond the reach of His love. Accepting Christ does not mean that everything in your life will suddenly become perfect. But it does mean that you will have a peace inside that you have never known before, and the assurance that you can now look forward to eternity.

The Bible says that for the joy that was set before Him Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 2:2). I believe Jesus looked into the future and saw the results of His death and resurrection; He saw those who would accept His gift and come into His family. And because of that He was able to endure the cross.

Jesus is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). I am so thankful He is in my life. I am thankful that God desired relationship with us so much that He was willing to send His Son. And I am thankful to Jesus that He was willing to die a cruel death to buy our redemption, and that He arose from the dead so that we can live also!

Scriptures for Reflection

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:7-9)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)