Easter is my favorite holiday. Not because of chocolate eggs or fluffy bunnies. Not because of Easter Lilies, even though lilies are my favorite. Not even because spring is in the air, and I love spring. Easter is my favorite holiday because it’s when we celebrate the moment everything changed.
Since the day Adam and Eve were banished from God’s presence because of their sin, mankind has stumbled through life trying to find their way back. We’ve built towers, created idols, wandered through deserts, conquered lands, sought wisdom, instituted rules. All the while trying to fill a God-sized hole in our heart to no avail.
We were separated from God, lost in our sin, and there seemed to be no cure. Then along came Jesus, the promised Savior.
I can’t comprehend what it must have been like to walk with Him. To see Him heal. To hear Him teach. To literally see God in the flesh. Then to watch Him arrested, convicted, beaten, and crucified over trumped-up charges with no basis in fact. I can’t imagine being Peter and denying even knowing Him as He stood before His accusers. I can’t fathom being His mother at the foot of the cross watching Him take His last breath and being carried away and buried in a tomb. I can’t conceive what it must have been like for His friends and followers the day after He died. They were lost without Him. Where would they go from here?
The day Jesus died was the worst day in human history. Or so they thought. Then three days later they discovered the empty tomb and encountered the risen Lord. And that was when everything changed!
Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen.” – Matthew 28:5-6 NLT
When Jesus died, they were crushed. But when He rose, they were emboldened.
On that first Easter morning, a heavy cloud was lifted from the earth. Friday night all hope had seemed lost, but Jesus waged a war against sin and death, and He won! That was the moment everything changed. Jesus swallowed up death forever. (Isaiah 25:8) and His victory is our victory, too!
“Because I live, you will also live.” – John 14:19 CSB
When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. – Romans 6:10-11 NLT
We went from being separated from God to being reconciled to Him.
For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by the means of Christ’s blood on the cross. – Colossians 1:19-20 NLT
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13 NLT
We went from being hopelessly lost to mercifully forgiven.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. – Ephesians 1:7 NLT
“Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.” – Isaiah 1:18 CSB
He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:13-14 CSB
“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” – Hebrews 8:12 ESV
We went from being destined for eternal wrath to being offered eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16 ESV
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 AMP
“For it is my Father’s will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” – John 6:40 NLT
Jesus Christ died to satisfy the cost of our sin and He rose to secure our eternal victory! When you wake up on Easter morning remember this: The tomb is still empty! Jesus is still alive!
If you have not turned to Jesus for salvation, do it now! There is nothing you can do on your own to obtain salvation. When you come face to face with your Creator, He will either see you in your sin and send you away. Or He will see Christ in you and welcome you home. Don’t wait another moment. Confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 10:9 CSB
