What Difference Does Easter Make?

Resurrection Day. What does it mean and why does it matter? On this day, over a billion people in the world will celebrate Easter or the resurrection all around the world. Why would something that happened almost 2000 years ago still be making a difference today? What does it all mean?

Today in the world there are approx. 2 billion people who profess to be Christians. Christianity is the largest religion in the world although it is the religion of only 1/3 of the world. The next closest religion is Islam and it has around a billion. Now granted, these are broad claims as far as practice. Just because people claim to be Christians doesn’t mean that they even go to church or more significantly, have a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But still, many will participate in some form of Easter celebration this weekend.

Easter is the highest attended church day of the year, followed by Christmas and then Mother’s day in the USA.

So, why is Easter such a big deal? A lot of people will say, “I believe in the resurrection, I just don’t understand it”. In a poll done a few years ago in the US, 84% of the people who never go to church said they believe that Jesus rose from the dead. It’s pretty much a historical fact. It wasn’t done in secret and He even told everyone before hand that he would do it! The whole city of Jerusalem knew about it and eventually the whole Roman Empire. It was news. I can just imagine what it would have been like if there had been cameras and news crews back then.

But people believe what the want to believe. Look at “fake news” today. Jesus warned back then when He told the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. Lazarus died and went to the “bosom of Abraham”, and the rich man died and went to hades. The rich man saw Abraham across the abyss and cried out to him to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers of the impending doom. Abraham answered him saying that they could hear the truth from Moses and the prophets and the rich man said, “If only they could hear from someone from the dead they would repent.” Abraham answered, , But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ NKJV

But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

NKJV

Jesus was telling them that it didn’t matter. If people won’t believe the Word of God, they won’t believe someone raised from the dead. It was an indication that people wouldn’t believe in Him either.

There are at least 15 historical references to Jesus meeting people, touching people, and talking with people. Once He showed up in a closed and locked room and another time He cooked breakfast for some people. He was witnessed by over 500 people after He had risen from the dead. A lot of people saw Him.

There are at least 15 historical references to Jesus meeting people, touching people, and talking with people. Once He showed up in a closed and locked room and another time He cooked breakfast for some people. He was witnessed by over 500 people after He had risen from the dead. A lot of people saw Him.

As far as the existence of Jesus, the Christians certainly believe He existed, the Muslims believe that He existed and was a great prophet, the Jew believe that He existed and was a prophet, most Buddhists believe that Jesus existed, the majority of Hindus believe that Jesus was one of several “Sons of God”, so they believe that He existed and generally even most agnostics believe that Jesus did exist.

He’s existence and claims are one of the most hotly debated topics of the last 2000 years. Prophecies pointed to Him and were fulfilled by Him and we have eyewitness accounts to His life, death and resurrection by people willing to die for their beliefs. How many people here would be willing to die for a made up story? No one in their right mind would. Most people wouldn’t even be willing to die for a lot of their beliefs, but these people went to the grave testifying to what they saw and knew to be fact.

So, back to the resurrection, what does it mean and why does it matter? What does it mean? Three things.

1. Jesus is who He claimed to be.

2. Jesus has the power He claimed to have.

3. Jesus does what He promised to do.

That is what it means.

I. Jesus is who He claimed to be.

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. NKJV Jesus made some outrageous claims while He was here on earth. He said things like, “I’m God…I’m the Savior of the World…I’m the only way to heaven…” Many claim that Jesus was only a good teacher or just a prophet. But, what kind of a good teacher or great prophet would go around making claims that weren’t true? I might teach good or even be able to tell you things about yourself or the future and you would think that I am a great teacher and prophet, but the minute I start telling you that I am God, you would stop believing that I am a good teacher anymore and start thinking that I was crazy.

Jesus was one or the other, He was either who He said He was or He was the biggest liar who ever lived. He said, “I am God.” He made claims and said that what He would do would validate what He said. When He raged through the temple, they asked by what right he had to do this. He said, “Because I’m God.” And they said, “Oh yeah, prove it!” And He said, “I will, after you kill me, I’m coming back to life three days later.” He claimed to be God and His resurrection backed up what He claimed to be.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to God the Father except through me." That's a pretty strong claim. He said I'm the way. He didn't say, I'm one way, I'm a good way, I'm one of the ways. Saying, "All roads get to heaven" is stupid. That's like saying I can dial any phone number and get my home. There's one number that will get me home.

He says, I'm the truth. That means any other way is not the truth if He's right. He claimed to be God. He says, "No one can get to God the Father except by me." Jesus is unique in that if one of His claims is true, then all are true.

II. Jesus shows He had the power He claimed to have.

Jesus said, “All power on earth and in heaven is given to me.” Because He was God, He could do everything that God could do. In Jesus said, No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father. NKJV No force could take Him to the tomb and no force could keep Him in the tomb.

His list of accomplishments from before should have told them this. This is the man that healed the sick, turned water into wine, forgave peoples sins, told them their past, walked on water, calmed the raging seas, fed over 9000 people with just a small bit and raised others from the dead and you think you can just kill Him when YOU want too? He had already denied that twice that we know of.

, Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. NKJV

, Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. NKJV

Jesus gave Himself willingly at the appointed time and even told His disciples that He chose to go then.

, Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus? NKJV

That’s about 72,000 angels against a handful of men if He so chose. He said I don’t need you 12, I could have 12 legions mightier than you!

Jesus gave up His life freely and suffered freely. The Romans beat Him and killed Him at the wish of the Jewish leaders, they put Him in a tomb and then sealed it with the Roman seal and they posted a 24 hour guard. They were trying to prevent the inevitable and when it happened, all they could do was make up a story that the guards had all fallen asleep (a crime punishable by death) and that a few of His followers moved this giant stone without waking them and stole the body! What happened was that He had ALL power in the world. He said, they can’t stop me, I can give my life away and I can take it up again.

III. Jesus does what He promises to do.

the Gentiles, who will mock me and spit on me, flog me and kill me, but after three days I will come back to life. (my version) The cross wasn’t a surprise to Jesus. It was part of God’s plan. The resurrection was a real travesty to the Romans. Pilate didn’t really want anything to do with Jesus, he tried to release him once, then they beat him and tried to release Him a second time and then after crucifying Him, sealing the tomb, He still disappeared. Jesus embarrassed the Romans and the Jewish leaders.

Those followers that came to the tomb on Sunday saw an angel who said, “Don’t be frightened. I know that you’re looking for Jesus who was crucified. He’s come back to life again just as He said He would.” Jesus did what He promised and it was witnessed by more than 500 people.

So, that’s what the resurrection means, Because Jesus did rise, He is who He said He was, He has the power He said He had and He kept the promises that He made.

That’s great, but what does that mean to me some 2000 years later? Why does the resurrection matter to us in the year 2017?

It means three things. Because Jesus is who He claimed to be and because He has the power He claimed to have and because Jesus does what He promises to do...

I. My past can be forgiven.

And that's good news. Have you ever been half way through a project and wish you could start over? Like painting the house or cooking dinner or whatever? A lot of times I think people feel that way about life. They get half way through life and just wish they could start over. We all have things we wish we hadn't done and said things we wish we hadn't said, thought things we wish we hadn't thought. We all have regrets. We all feel bad about things. We all have guilt.

Sad thing is, I know a lot of people like that. They can’t get on with the present and the future because they are stuck in the past. There are things that we need to get off our chest, burdens that we carry around with us. Here’s the good news, , And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. NKJV

This is God’s pardon program. He says that He nailed it all to the cross. He paid for our guilt. He was beat up so I don’t have to beat myself up for what I have done, and He did it WILLINGLY!! , “There is no condemnation to those who belong to Christ Jesus.” He didn’t come to rub it in; He came to rub it out. He said, “I didn’t come to condemn the world, I came to save it.” There was no need to come to condemn the world, the world had already condemned itself. The world didn’t need condemnation, it needed a Savior!

Because Jesus is who He said it was, my past can be forgiven. I don't have to go carrying a load of guilt around. It's unnecessary. He wants to change you, to help you, give you a new beginning, a clear conscious. That's news we can use.

II. My present problems can be managed.

Once my past has been forgiven, I still have to deal with today AND Jesus, because He is who He said and can do what He said, has told me that He will be right there with me going through it.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." NKJV

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." NKJV

Because He has all power, we have that available to help us: I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead… TLB

No matter what we are going through, it can be overcome. Nothing is impossible for God, so nothing is impossible for us as believers. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. NKJV

Why does the resurrection matter? Because my past can be forgiven, my present can be managed and…

III. My future can be secure.

Nobody likes to talk about death, but everybody dies. I’ll die someday and all of you will too. Since it is inevitable, we should talk about it. Since Jesus does what He promises, let’s look at some promises, , the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. NKJV

, He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. NKJV

, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. NKJV

I have the assurance of eternal life and eternal life is life in the presence of Almighty God.

, So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" NKJV

What can man do to me?" NKJV

, For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. NKJV

, These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. NKJV

So, what difference does Easter make? All the difference in the world! It makes all the difference in eternity!