When we think about Easter we may think of egg hunts with our families and dinner parties with our family or friends. You may even think about your favorite Easter candy (hello Reese’s eggs!) and all of those things are AWESOME!
It’s great to celebrate with family and take pictures that will give us good memories but I want you to take a minute and remember the reason we have Easter as a holiday.
The source of unlimited joy
That sounds amazing doesn’t it? An unlimited supply of joy? Anyone would kill to have that! There is only one person who is meant to fill the emptiness inside us replacing it with pure joy. His name is Jesus. The person of Jesus Christ wants to come into your life, power wash your soul, make you new, and show you the reason you were put here on earth. Jesus wants to satisfy and fulfill your emptiness replacing it with his joy.
Jesus is the only one that is meant to satisfy the deepest parts of you. He knows you better than you know yourself and he wants to be a loving father to you who will take care of you.
Jesus is meant to be praised and worshipped, his well will never run dry. In order for us to be filled with this amazing goodness there had to be a payment for our sin. Jesus is the payment and because of his death, through him we can be saved and satisfied.
The death of Jesus
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. (Mark 15:33-37)
Jesus was literally beaten almost to the point of death and then they nailed him to a cross and let him hang there until he died.
This style of execution called the crucifixion was invented and used by the Persians but the Romans were the ones who perfected it using all the time for criminals and murderers, all of which Jesus was none.
The Resurrection
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark 16:4-8)
The Resurrection is why we have hope! The resurrection is reason we celebrate Easter every single year. Jesus was killed on Friday and Resurrected on Sunday!
The tomb is empty and if the tomb is empty there’s nothing that Jesus cannot do!
Jesus was the payment for us. Dying the death we deserve to die. Because of this we get to experience eternal life and victory of death and darkness.
There’s hope for anyone.
We’ve all sinned and cannot save ourselves. We need to be justified in order to be in relationship with God. The only way is to receive Jesus as savior as the direct payment for our sin.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith. (Romans 3:23-25)
Sin is direct disobedience to God and his word resulting in separation from him
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17 ESV)
What is Jesus resurrecting in you?
Jesus wants to do something great in your life and he wants you to experience the hope and healing he has for you. What needs resurrecting in your life?
This past year and this year has been one of the most difficult times any of us have ever faced, but I believe Jesus wants to speak to you today.
Is Jesus resurrecting your faith that you’ve faded from? Is he resurrecting your belief in him because you’ve been doubting him? Is he resurrecting the identity he’s given you of a loved child of God? Is he resurrecting you from a situation that you thought was hopeless and dead? Is it that you need to begin a relationship with him? A real, genuine relationship that’s not based on works and what you can do.
Jesus will be your friend, your helper, your guide, your strength and your protector. Accepting Jesus is not just about going to heaven, it’s about living life to the fullest as a new creation while here on earth.
You can receive Jesus as your savior right now by doing what’s described in this verse below:
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is LORD,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
You may do this by praying a prayer that’s already written out for you below. Pray this out to Jesus right now:
Prayer to pray:
“Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that I have sinned. I believe Jesus came here and lived a perfect life in my place that I cannot live. Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins and I accept you as my Lord and savior. Come into my heart Jesus and have your way with me. Amen.”
You are forgiven, loved and now have a relationship with your heavenly father. You are a new creation. The old has gone, the new you is here.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Once you’ve prayed that prayer the new life ahead of you is amazing! Your circumstances may not change instantly but the work that Jesus is going to do in you and through you has only just begun.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:28 ESV)
The life Jesus wants for you really is a life to the fullest. He’s got great things in store for you and he’s hope for your circumstances. Pray to him and ask him for healing and guidance.
If you prayed to receive Christ I want you to comment below and let me know! I would love to be able to have a conversation with you.
The Best Is Yet To Come!
Bryant Westbrook 