I remember the time our pastor’s little daughter hid a bunch of easter eggs, real eggs, not plastic eggs all over their house. They did not find all the eggs that day, but over the next few weeks they began to find them - and wow what a smell!
How will we celebrate Easter? Will it be Easter egg hunts, new clothes or shoes for the girls and maybe out to dinner?
Or will it be the remembrance of what took place on a hill outside of Jerusalem? Where one man gave his life for many. He was innocent but executed like a criminal. He was the only begotten Son of God and was crucified on a cross.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Acts 2:22-24 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
His death provided many wonderful benefits for us. His shed blood provided the only way that we could have peace with God.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
It provided redemption or forgiveness from sin, (Romans 5:6-11).
He took the punishment that should have been ours, (Isaiah 53:1-12, 1 Peter 3:18).
For every man, woman or child, it is the only hope for us. We can have our sins forgiven and have the hope of being in eternity with God, (Romans 6:1-11).
It is the greatest day and event that any Christian can celebrate.
This Easter Sunday, let us especially pay homage to the one who loves us, suffered and died for us.
See you in Church next Sunday.