HOW and WHO you celebrate
- VBS4ever
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
This Sunday we celebrate ‘Easter’ or 'Resurrection Day,' the day Christ-followers remember the sacrifice our Lord and Saviour made on Calvary’s Cross and that He was raised from the dead three days later.
1Corinthians 15:4 - “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
The world celebrates ‘Easter’ differently … the 'Easter bunny' brings baskets of candy, and weather permitting, there’s an Easter egg hunt outside … some people might even make their semi-annual appearance at a Christian service, wearing their ‘Sunday best’ … it’s a celebration of Spring, after all! Hmmm …
While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with celebrating like the world does, it is sad if our Lord and Saviour isn’t glorified in the celebration … for what He has done for ‘whosoever.’
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
What is Resurrection Day all about? Isaiah Chapter 53 describes Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and Saviour of the World. The resurrection refers to Jesus being raised from the dead three days after his death on the Cross. Jesus willingly laid down his life, paying the full penalty for our sin debt by offering Himself as the perfect, spotless sacrifice.
Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead defeated the power of sin and death and purchased (for all who believe and accept) eternal life in Christ Jesus. (Believing not only that Jesus or God exist, but believing in God’s power of the Cross and Jesus’ resurrection.) The Bible says our ‘belief’ must be heartfelt (Rom. 10:9-10) and sincere; and just like any gift, in order to accept His gift of salvation we must receive it …receive the gift of spiritual birth (John 3:3) and spiritual baptism (John 3:5).
John 3:3-5 - "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Christians have two births: the first birth is physical/water from your mother; the second birth is spiritual/of the Spirit (born again). All four gospels tell the story … Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.
Once you become God's child through spiritual birth, you are an heir (Rom. 8:17) to His kingdom. All this, because of the shed blood of Jesus … His death, burial and Resurrection.
If it weren’t for His resurrection, we would be destined for hell because of our sin.
But good news … He’s alive and He’s got a gift (Eph. 2:8) for you (much better than a bunny and some candy). There’s never been, or ever will be, a Greater Gift!
Now THAT’S something to celebrate! What will you celebrate on April 20? How will you celebrate? WHO will you celebrate on Resurrection Day 2025?
When the day comes will you be ready to give an answer of the hope of Jesus Christ?
1Peter 3:15 - “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
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