Why We Celebrate Easter–The Miracle of the Cross

In a few days, millions around the globe will celebrate Easter. It commemorates the most important event in the history of the world.

Leading up to what became the first Easter, Jesus was tried unjustly. Though He did nothing wrong, He was crucified as a criminal. In all of that, it was really the world that was on trial. Jesus’s crucifixion reveals the depth of human sin. The Son of God came to earth, full of grace and compassion, and the world put Him to death in a vicious execution. The cruelty of the cross shows how much we need a Savior. His resurrection shows the hope we have.

Jesus was not a victim. He came to die. Before God created people, He knew we would need a Savior. He gave mankind free will so we could choose relationship with Him, rather than have it forced upon us. God knew we would use our free will to rebel against Him.

Our human propensity to sin against God and His authority was revealed in the garden with the very first couple. God gave Adam and Eve one restriction in the midst of His generous provision. They could eat from any tree in the garden except one. They chose that one. The human race has suffered the consequences ever since.

Every generation since has made the same choice, in a multitude of ways. When God says, “Thou shalt not,” and we do anyway, it is rebellion against Him. It is rejecting His authority in our lives. We are all guilty.

God created us for relationship. Sin broke the relationship. The failure of mankind to live pure, holy lives was no surprise to Him. He created us anyway, despite the cost. It was always God’s plan to send Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John1:29). Out of His love and goodness, He created us and made a way for us to spend eternity with Him. Before the foundation of the world . . . (Ephesians 1:3-11; Revelation 13:8).

Because God is just and holy, He must punish sin. The penalty we deserve is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). Jesus lived the perfect, sinless life none of us is capable of living. He sacrificed Himself, taking the punishment He did not deserve so we could be covered by His righteousness. When we put our faith in Jesus, all our sin is forgiven. Then He transforms us from the inside so we can live in ways that please Him–not to earn His favor, but to show our gratitude. The Bible, from beginning to end, is all about Jesus.

It’s the miracle of the cross. We are justified before God because of Jesus. Whoever turns away from sin and submits to God’s authority through faith in Jesus, escapes His wrath. By Jesus’s resurrection, death has no power over us.

Jesus was crucified between two criminals. We don’t know what their crimes were. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is their response to Jesus. One of them recognized Jesus’s power and authority. He put his faith in Jesus in his last hours on earth. Jesus promised him he would be with Him in paradise that day. Whatever he had done in the past was irrelevant at that point. He found forgiveness and eternal reconciliation with God when he turned to Jesus in faith.

The other man made no move toward Jesus, but joined in the mocking of Him, to his own eternal loss.

Easter is so much more than a spring holiday. It is the reminder of our gracious God who took it upon Himself to do what we could not do for ourselves, so we could spend eternity with Him. He demonstrated His love at the cross. Whosoever will may come ( John 3:16).

How can we not praise Him for His wonderful gift?

HAPPY EASTER

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1

 

How will you show your gratitude to God for His wonderful gift? Please leave a comment below.

Blessings,
Phyllis

Copyright 2024 Phyllis L. Farringer

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay