Easter

Introduction

Easter is the most important day in history for humans

Certainly days like the 4th of July and The day the Allies won WWII are important days in history, but Easter is hands down and without question the most important day in history for humans.

If there were another day that could rival Easter on importance, it would have to be Christmas. Welcoming the Savior of the World to Earth is obviously hugely important, but Christmas was just the start of the life that was eventually going to lead Jesus to the cross and then to victory over death on Easter.

The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Matthew 27:35–54 ESV

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matt 27:35-

As Jesus is dying on the cross, we see the universe itself begin to fail and crack at the seams. From the sixth hour to the ninth hour there is a darkness over the world.

Jesus cries out as God has left Jesus. Jesus is severed from the triune God so that God can view Jesus as an enemy and unleash His full wrath on him. This is completely unnatural and defies the order of reality.

We see the curtain torn in the temple and an intense earthquake shake the foundations of the Earth. Rocks are split and tombs are opened, and dead people are walking around. Creation itself is bending and groaning at the scene of Jesus Christ dying and receiving the wrath of God.

The affects were so intense that even the centurions that were carrying out his crucifixion proclaimed “Truly this was the Son of God!”

You can imagine their thoughts, that they come to the realization that they are responsible for the death of the Son of God. You can imagine the regret, the distress, the utter repentance.

We should be able to imagine those feelings in the centurions because if we are Christians, we have been confronted with the reality that we are also responsible for all of Jesus’ suffering. Jesus had to suffer for all of our sins.

Do you begin to see the impact of your sin now? Do you see that sins are not just “slip-ups” or “mistakes”? Our sins have caused our Lord and immense amount of pain and grief. We are responsible for Jesus being severed from the Godhead and being treated as the #1 enemy of God.

The Resurrection of Jesus

As large as the impact of your sin may be, it is not the center focus of the death of Jesus. Although it was our sin that made Jesus’ death necessary, our sin couldn’t keep Jesus dead. The main focus of the death of Christ is the fact that he has power over our sin and over death itself! It couldn’t keep him in the grave!

Matthew 27:62–66 ESV

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 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.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Matt 27:62-66

We see in this passage the people who killed Jesus making even more efforts to prevent Jesus from rising up again. They seal the stone to his grave so that nobody can go in or out. They even set up their own personal guard of soldiers to make absolutely certain that nobody can go in or out. The sin inside of man is making every effort at defeating the Son of God

Matthew 28:1–10 ESV

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 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.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Truly we see here that Christ is more powerful than our sin, and that God cannot be thrown into a cage by men. We may try all we want to thwart the plans of God, but we are no match for His plans.

What does the Resurrection Mean For Us?

1 Corinthians 15:50–57 ESV

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:50–56 ESV

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

1 Cor 15:

By ourselves, we see that our mortal bodies are not able to enter the Kingdom of God. We see that we must be changed! We must put on immortality, we must exchange flesh and blood for an imperishable body. Its only then that the beautiful promise shall be fulfilled “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

By ourselves, we see that our mortal bodies are not able to enter the Kingdom of God. We see that we must be changed! We must put on immortality, we must exchange flesh and blood for an imperishable body. Its only then that the beautiful promise shall be fulfilled “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

How do we do that? You can’t go to any professor or doctor who will be able to show you how to put on the imperishable body, or to become immortal. That isn’t a normal thing to ask for or seek after. So how do we see this change? How do we see this victory that swallows up even death?

V.57 Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

We have received immortality and victory over death through Jesus Christ.

Jesus alone makes this transformation possible! Praise be to God for Jesus Christ, who defeated death on our behalf on Easter day.

Our Response to All Of This

Not only are we saved from our sins, but Paul continues and states that we are invited to participate through the Holy Spirit!

1 Cor 15:

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Why? Out of a sheer gratitude for the fact that Jesus has granted you the ability to live in eternity with God.

Are you trying to make the most of this life, living it to the fullest to squeeze every ounce of satisfaction from it? Or do you offer it up to God as a response to everything he has offered up for you?

If your labor is for the Lord, then we can know for certain that it won’t be for nothing. We know this because it is the Lord who makes it happen, and no man can stand against the power of our God.

So as Easter week is upon us, begin to really consider all that God had sacrificed so that he could bring you into His Kingdom, and consider whether you are willing to sacrifice your own time, popularity, resources or anything else for His glory.