Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph… and he had been waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock.
Luke 23:50-53 (NLT)
Happy Easter! This is the day that we celebrate the fact that Jesus did not remain in the tomb. Although His body was beaten, slain, and laid in a tomb, He arose. Death could not defeat Him!
When writing this week’s blog, I initially began listing some of the details that led up to the crucifixion of Jesus. I intended to include a variety of Old Testament Scriptures that foretold His death. But I hadn’t written for very long, before I stopped. I knew deep within my heart that I wasn’t writing what I should; therefore, I returned to prayer.
Yes, it is important that you know that Jesus was God and that He was the Word of God. You also need to know that although He was a king, Jesus became a humble servant for all mankind (John 1:1-17). He was despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3). He was wounded and crushed for your sins (Isaiah 53:5). He had done no wrong, yet He was crucified like a common criminal (Isaiah 53:9, NLT). He was beaten, abused, and killed, but on the third day, He arose. He overcame death (Luke 24:5-6).
Although all of those preceding facts are important, it is more important for you to know that Jesus Christ was, and still is, the pure, spotless, blood sacrifice for your sins. His death and resurrection bought a fresh beginning for you. All you have to do is believe in Him and accept His gift of life. That is what this lesson is about.
Each year around springtime, we celebrate Easter. During spring, the days become longer and sunnier. Tender flower bulbs begin sprouting and poking their heads out from under the dirt. Spring showers come and begin washing winter’s impurities out of the air. Everything appears brighter and cleaner in the spring, and many people associate springtime with new life and new beginnings.
Christ’s death and resurrection bought a new life with a new beginning for you. His blood sacrifice can wash the impurities of sin out of your heart. He can bring light into your darkness (John 1:4-9), and He can give you hope when you feel hopeless (Ephesians 4:17-21). He can comfort you when you mourn. He can heal you when you are sick in body, as well as, the sick in heart. He can free you if you are held captive to sin. He is the Redeemer and He is the Restorer.
All of this sounds wonderful, but how does this happen and what does it mean to you?
For these answers, let’s look to Acts 2:38. When some men, who were under conviction for crucifying Jesus, wanted to know what they should do, Peter replied, “Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (NLT). That gift, the Holy Spirit, changes lives.
The admonition of turning from your sins, turning to God, and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, is an important message. However, sometimes it is hidden under a neat little package of Easter ceremonies. Of course, you love chocolate Easter bunnies, eggs, and candy. But unfortunately, chocolate bunnies, eggs, and candy, cannot bring you life. Instead, all they can bring you is a few extra pounds on your hips and waist.
When you turn from your sins, repent of those sins, and turn to God, you become filled with the Holy Spirit. Things that you once loved, you will begin to hate. And things that you once hated, you will begin to love. Under His guidance (the Holy Spirit), you start to evolve into a new and different person (Galatians 6:14-15). You have a fresh, new beginning as you begin poking your head out from under all of your dirt…the sin in your life.
Just as Christ rose from the dead, you can rise from the death of sin. You can have a new life with fresh opportunities. You can be reborn through the Spirit of God, because Jesus, “…carried your sins away in His own body on the cross so that you can be dead to sin and have eternal life (1 Peter 2:24, NLT).
Join with me and let’s begin preparing our hearts for the return of our Lord so that we can have eternal life.
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)
Three Key Concepts:
1. The death and resurrection of Jesus bought a fresh beginning for you.
2. If you accept God’s gift of His Son, you are resurrected from sin’s death grasp.
3. Once you accept God’s gift, His Holy Spirit enters you and begins cleansing and preparing you for eternal life.
