I love Easter. It’s my favourite time of year. It comes during spring, the wonderful season that holds in its hand the long-awaited end to winter, and the anticipated promise of summer. But Easter has far more meaning than simply a turning of weather. It celebrates the most important event in the history of the world.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1
It doesn’t matter whether or not we have the date exactly right. It doesn’t matter how other traditions or cultures approach it. Easter represents the end of bondage, and the beginning of freedom. Although the death and resurrection of Christ defines our lives every day of the year, Easter signifies a time when everything stops (literally, because the stores are all closed), so that Jesus is recognized above all else.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” – John 11:25
God gave us His most precious gift, His son Jesus. So that through him, not only would we have eternal life, but we would be set free from sin, from sickness, from fear, and from despair. The sacrifice of Jesus brought with it the ultimate price paid. When that veil was torn in two, the way was made clear to the Father.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” – 1 Peter 1:3
Through his pain, we have been restored. Through his suffering, we have been made whole. Through his anguish, we have been made clean. We no longer have to find favor through rituals, or routines. Jesus stood in our place, and took everything upon his shoulders, to grant us salvation, once and for all.
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14
We have been washed in the precious blood of Jesus, and there is power in that blood.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” – 1 Peter 1:19,21
In the same way that the blood on the doorposts served as an exemption for the Israelites, so too does the shed blood of Jesus serve as our righteous exemption, and our eternal security.
“And the blood shall be to you a token upon the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you.” – Exodus 12:13
“When God saw the blood applied and all conditions met, He gave security to that home. So it is in the gospel. Repentance must be sincere and accompanied by a turning away from sin before there is security in Christ.” (Dake Reference Bible)
Through the shed blood of Christ, there is healing, forgiveness, protection and security.
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24
What an incredible promise, that the blood of Jesus heals us, and makes us righteous. Not in our own strength, but through the mighty working power of the Holy Spirit, that Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and now lives in us. That blood gives us power over the devil.
“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus triumphed over the devil. We have the confidence that although we were once lost in sin, we have the opportunity to find new life in Christ Jesus, and have the victory over all the power of the enemy.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” – Romans 3:23-25
We weren’t worthy before, but now through the confession of faith, and the repentance of sin, we are made sons and daughters of the Most High God. Is there anything more amazing than knowing your sins are forgiven, and you now have the promise of eternal life?
You don’t have live as a slave to fear or to sin, or to sickness. You don’t have to go another moment without hope. You can have the peace that comes with the acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord. You can have the assurance that you have refuge in the shadow of His wings.
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
Our trust is not in anything that can be lost. Our trust is in our Strong Tower. Our trust in the one living God, who is above all things. If you’ve never received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, pray this simple prayer. And know that you are now saved, you are a child of God. Your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. And you’ll never be the same again.
“Jesus, thank you for dying for me. Forgive me for all my sins and wrongdoing. Through my confession of faith, I know that my old life has gone, and the new life has come. I believe in my heart that you are Lord. I want to follow you all the days of my life. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.”
