In just under two weeks we will be celebrating Easter and I am so excited, it is my favorite holiday! Not only is it my personal favorite but also it is the most important event on the Christian calendar!

I’ve been preparing for this day for several weeks now! Not in the way you may think, by buying candy or new clothes. Rather, I’ve started contemplating about why something that took place over 2000 years ago still matters for us today.

This one event, didn’t just impact the Middle East, it radically changed the world! Because of this event

• history was split. B. C. or A. D., every time you write a date you are using the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the focal point.
• both Jews and Gentiles can enter the kingdom of God.

First and foremost the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event, the very core, of the Christian faith. The foundation of all Christian doctrine hinges on the truth of this narrative.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.  (1 Cor 15:17 CSB)

What does the church celebrate at Easter?

We celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the dead!

• Jesus was crucified on the cross. (1 Corinthians 15:3)  The perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) was slain on the cross, so that, by His blood we could be redeemed (rescued) from sin (1 Peter: 18-19).
• Jesus was buried. (1 Corinthians 15:4)
• Jesus rose from the dead! (1 Corinthians 15:4) He did not remain dead, He rose again! (Matthew 28:1-17, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11)
• Jesus appeared to more than 500! (1 Corinthians 15:6-8)

Why do we celebrate the Resurrection?

• It proved that Jesus was who He claimed to be. He was God in the flesh and He came to earth to save us. (John 12:47) • It is the proof that Christ’s sacrifice was enough.
• It provides the power for us to live a life of surrender.
• It gives assurance that we have access to the throne room of heaven.
• It is the hope of our resurrection! (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

What does this look like in our daily walk?

It reminds us that

• there is nothing I can do to make God love and accept me any more than He already does. And nothing I do or don’t do that will cause God to love me any less!
• our acceptance is NOT based on our performance! Our relationship with God is NOT because we have or have not kept the law, but because Jesus did!
• as a believer we don’t have to be something before God because Jesus accomplished everything on our behalf!
• Jesus’ sacrifice fully satisfied the Father’s anger so that we will never again face the penalty for our sin! His grace is our hope!

That is freedom in Christ!

So today, don’t let anyone dull your sparkle by putting you under the law of performance-based acceptance! (Yes that is T-shirt theology, but not bad! ?)

Walk in the grace and hope that is yours because Jesus both kept and fulfilled the law!

There is more to come!

Beginning this Sunday I will post daily about the events, which lead up go to Easter Sunday. It is important that we place the hope of the Resurrection and the promise of new life, against the background of death.

As you walk through the shadows and darkness of Holy Week and Good Friday, only then do you really grasp the horror and magnitude of sin and its consequences. Only then can you fully understand the light and hope of Sunday morning!

It is my hope that you have been moved to prepare yourself so that you can fully grasp the significance of Easter and experience, perhaps for the first time, the light and hope of Sunday morning of Holy Week!

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