I know how easily I become distracted, discouraged, and lose sight of what God has done for me. I was reminded a few days ago at how the Lord has been faithful throughout history. From the exodus out of Egypt, to His son being crucified on the cross. There has not been a moment that the Lord did not fulfill His promise to mankind. I know the Easter story is a common one that we hear every year, but there is so much importance behind the story.
Jesus was perfection. He died a criminal’s death so we didn’t have to. He faced separation from the father. Even while He was hanging on the cross being defiled, made fun of, and cursed He still asked for our forgiveness.
After His crucifixion, He rose three days later. Our hope is found in the death and resurrection of Christ.
Matthew 27: 62-65 “The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
Luke chapter 24: 1-6 “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen.”
Matthew 28:5-10 “5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
The death and resurrection of Christ fulfilled the prophecies in the Old testament. Without these two things, the promise of eternal life would be incomplete. God has proven faithful and has kept His promise to mankind. The importance behind the Easter story is that God sent His only son to die a sinner’s death so that mankind could have a relationship with Him. Jesus lived a perfect life and died so that we would have the choice of having an eternal home with God.
Let’s not let our hearts become numb to the importance of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This is where our hope is found. We need to be grateful for God’s sacrifice and mercy every day. Try to enter in time with Him with a heart posture of thankfulness and gratitude.
Beloved, you are so loved.
-AV
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