I like how the world has an almost full calendar from January to December highlighting different holidays that we ought to celebrate. I also like how people and technology have the ability to remind you what holiday you are celebrating even if you had forgotten about it. What I don’t like however, is the ignorance that people have with regards to the meaning of these holidays.
So today I wanted to debunk any myth about Easter and I just wanted to let you know the true meaning of Easter.
Easter is a holiday that Christians celebrate to remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated for 3 days and nights, Friday to Monday, Friday normally referred to as Good Friday marking the day He died, all the way to Easter Sunday and Easter Monday that mark the day Jesus rose from the dead.
The Easter story is recorded in 3 main parts; The Last Supper, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection. The following scriptures briefly highlight all 3 parts.
The Last Supper
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”
Luke 22:14-20
The Passover is also another feast that the Jews celebrate in remembrance of the day they left Egypt. It was during this celebration that Jesus revealed to his disciples what would happen to him. He was then betrayed by one of his disciples, Judas who gave out his location to the Roman soldiers and Pharisees who had been looking to arrest him on false charges, because they considered him a threat to their evil schemes. After his arrest a verdict was then passed for Jesus to be crucified alongside 2 thieves.
Jesus is Crucified
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the jews.
Mathew 27:32-37 KJV
Jesus was bruised and pierced and bled in 7 different areas of his body that later on would be revealed to be very significant to the Christian life. His crucifixion happened at Golgotha.
Jesus Dies
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[c] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Mathew 27:50-54 NIV
These dramatic events were meant to serve as a sign for the non-believers, to show them that they had indeed crucified the Son of God.
Jesus is Risen
4 Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. The stone was very large. 5 They entered the tomb. As they did, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe. He was sitting on the right side. They were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. But he has risen! He is not here! See the place where they had put him. 7 Go! Tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. It will be just as he told you.’ ”
Mathew 16:4-6 KJV
After 3 days Jesus was raised from the dead. Within these 3 days He is said to have descended into hell, this was because of the sin of mankind, he carried all of man’s sin and died for man. Having the Spirit of God in him, he then fought off all evil, including death itself, he conquered it, took the authority over hell and rose again. This signified that he had already paid the price for all of man’s sin and ushered in the forgiveness of man and the authority of man over sin and death.
In the next post I will look into the benefits of Easter to a believer so stay tuned if you are interested in finding out more.
Prayer
Father God, there is sometimes controversy about how, when, and what to call the remembrance of the greatest day in history – the day Jesus Christ, your beloved son, rose from the dead and brought the gift of your forgiveness and eternal life to all who would like to receive it – the new covenant. Please pour out your Holy Spirit on all who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and put us on our knees before you with thankful hearts for your great love for us. You, oh God, have given us victory over sin and death, and the promise of never leaving us or forsaking us for eternity. For that, we say thank you Lord.
In Jesus name we have prayed.
Amen.
Noanne ❤❤❤