For a few weeks leading to this day, I’ve had to study, meditate and do some serious research on redemption. So far, I’ve had stunning realizations, tugging questions and mindblowing considerations about the subject of salvation. Some revelations have burned in my heart like the scald of steam, and others have left me wide-eyed and awed at how far God would go for mankind.
It is Easter, and I bet I’ll be greeted with nothing less than a hundred Easter wishes today. A beautiful thing, actually. And yes, families and friends will be gathered in different parts of the world today to enjoy Easter together. Very beautiful still.
But beyond the artistic fliers, the inspiring social media quotes, the sumptuous Easter delicacies, and the love people would express to others, it genuinely bothers me if we truly understand the event we commemorate today. Have you tried to stay calm for a few minutes and brood over everything Easter symbolizes?
“the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” a few Christians may respond.
“the love God has for mankind,” others may add.
My question is this: What has Easter got to do with you? What has the resurrection of Jesus done for you? If you will, take some minutes to meditate on this. But then, here are things you should know about Easter:
God Gave His All
If you’ve ever pictured God as an angry dictator, sitting above our heads, with fire fuming out of His nostrils and a volcano erupting over His head, while He awaits the next offender, I need you to think again.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John3:16
Kindly follow me.
…who (Christ) being the brightness of His (God) glory and the express image of His person…Hebrews 1:3
For in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9
Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Philippians 2:6.
From the scriptures above, you’ll agree that Jesus, being the Son of God, is God Himself. God doesn’t have a wife who would have probably birthed Him a Son He could more easily throw down the earth. 😏
God didn’t give a representative or an adopted child as a sacrifice to gain the world He loved. He gave Himself!
God gave Himself to prove His love and longing for the world.
Now, tell me, which angry dictator would do that?
If God gave Himself, it becomes clear that there’s absolutely nothing better He would have given to have us for Himself. Nothing.
Easter is a Reminder of Redemption
Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection reconciled us to God – we who were once aliens and enemies of God. Redemption’s essence is to give us life and usher us into God’s household.
…I am come, that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10
However, we’ll never know what happened on that cross, even if we think we do. It’s okay to reckon with the pain and suffering Jesus underwent as He journeyed to that dreadful tree because from it came our wholeness. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the spiritual pain of a momentary separation from God.
My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?
Do you even know what this sentence means?
Can you try to wrap your head around the agony that must have been birthed from God turning His back against Himself? And because Jesus bore my sins and your sins, God could not put up with Himself at that moment, and He had to turn away!!
Why did God even have to do it?
He owes nobody apologies!! God could decide to leave man to rot, trying to attain righteousness all by himself, and He still wouldn’t be impeached from being God!!
But He made the first attempt towards reconciliation!
He stretched forth His hand towards the world He so loves!!
He couldn’t but love us!!!
And if there was anything greater than Jesus’s sacrifice with which God could show His love to us, I bet on my life that He would do it again and again!!!
It Symbolizes Your Freedom from Sin, Death, and the Devil
…For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8
Clearly, Jesus manifested in the flesh, was killed, buried and resurrected to set you and I free from the power of the devil.
In forgiving our sins by the shedding of His blood, Jesus made us free from the operations of death that came through sin. Consequently, we ceased to be the devil’s puppets.
But Jesus did not only deliver us from the devil. He gave us power over sin, death and the devil!!
Can I hear you shout hallelujah??
Easter Signifies that God Has Made You His House
I want to jump!
God did not stop at giving us power over sin and death. He’s made us His house, comfortable for His Spirit.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Glory to God!!
As one bearing the Spirit of God, you have the right of attorney to Jesus’s name, and you can (and should) give full expression to the workings of the Spirit!
Now, here’s my sincere conclusion:
Do Not Mock God
If you’ll have nothing to do with the essence of Easter, then you may as well skip its celebration.
Easter is about the love of Jesus and man’s redemption from the power of sin. It is NOT a lovers’ excuse for fornication. It is NOT a day for drunkenness, and it should definitely not be reduced to a day to eat nice meals and show off beautiful attires!!
Everyday Should Be Easter
I honestly think we should celebrate Easter every day. Every day of your life, you should reckon with the finished work of the cross and daily proclaim Jesus as your Savior by living out the life of God.
If you’re yet to receive the life of God, I urge you to do so.
For how long would you turn your back on the love God has shown without restraint? Have you ever encountered such love elsewhere? Never!
How long would you run away from a God whose hands are stretched out in compassion to receive your hungry and parched soul?
Are your sins keeping you away?
“Come,” He says; there’s enough blood to go round and make you white as snow. There’s more than enough forgiveness in Christ!
You don’t have to suffer that burden of sin anymore!
You don’t have to keep trying to stay righteous before Him. Seize the life He has freely offered in Christ, and live out His best for you!
If you’ve received God’s precious life, make every day your Easter. Remind yourself daily of God’s overwhelming love for you, and give expression to the precious Holy Spirit who is a seal to your redemption – EVERYDAY!!!
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