What does Easter look like to you? Bunnies, eggs, jellybeans and chocolate?
Here’s what a few people in Jesus day said:
“I have seen the Lord” – Mary Magdalene
“My Lord and My God!” –Thomas (called the Twin)
“He has risen!” – The Angel who rolled back the stone
“Remember what He told you?” – Angels in the tomb
“The Lord has risen indeed!” – The eleven and those gathered with them
“…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” – John the Apostle
People gathered to celebrate and worship God. Books were written to record and share what they had been witness to. No amount of persecution, beatings or even death could slow the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ, in fact, persecution only accelerated it.
What is different today? Is there any better news?
God created everything, including you, to be perfect and with Him.
Adam sinned, we all have sinned, and sin separates us from our holy God.
God loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to live perfectly, and to take away our sins.
Jesus was put to death for a crime He didn’t commit, and God put our sin on Him.
Jesus rose from the dead in victory just as He said He would.
Our sins were paid for by the death of Jesus.
We are restored to life with God, connected to Him for all time.
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” – John the Baptist
But that’s not all. The days between Jesus Last Supper with his disciples, his death the next day, and resurrection on the third day include the day of Preparation, when yeast was eliminated from homes and thousands of Passover lambs were being slaughtered, the Passover meal, the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:5-11).
“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Paul (formerly Saul)
Not only are you forgiven and restored to life with God, today, but you will be raised to life again and will live forever with Him in the new Earth and Heaven to come. He is our once-and-for-all Passover Lamb, and the First Fruit of the harvest, proving that we will who have life in Him will also rise with Him.
“Truly this was the Son of God!” – Centurion keeping watch over Jesus
If Christmas shows how much God loves you by His coming to be with you. Easter shows how much God sacrificed to give you life to the full now and to bring you home to live forever in perfection with Him.
Do you have a friend who might like to know that God so desperately wants to be with them?
Do you have a friend who would like the promise of a perfect future?
How can you show them what Easter means to you?
Join me in praying for the opportunity, and for the words. Then make an opportunity, get together with them.
YOU are part of the Catalyst 100… God is calling you to explore and renew your commitment to His Mission – one way is these new LGs – maybe you could try it (e.g. for 6 months)?”
Let me know where you see God personally and purposefully using you. If you have a story or feedback, please Share It with me in the comments or via email: [email protected]
