The True Meaning Of Easter

Good Friday marks the day Jesus was taken to be crucified at Calvary. Our Lord and Savior took on the sins and weight of the world. He was mocked, scoffed at, beaten and disfigured, to the point that historians say he was unrecognizable. He did this for you.

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ There was a written notice above him, which reads: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘ Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him.

‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’

Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise‘ (Luke 23:36-43).

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas at the Garden of Gethsemane and captured before going to the cross, Jesus had been praying and asking God to let His will be done. Although Jesus was sweating blood and knew what was ahead of Him, He knew what His purpose was and that the prophecies would be fulfilled through scripture.

The Lord Jesus asked the Father to forgive the people who mistreated him and the unbelievers. The Lord knew man’s heart and that we would need forgiveness.

Jesus said, ‘Father. Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34).

The Lord knew He needed to come and take the sins of the world to conquer death and to rise again on the third day. The resurrection reveals the power of God and that His word is true!

Historians have researched the heaviness of the stone that was in front of Jesus’ tomb. The stone weighed more than two tons and would have required teams of men to move it. At least four Roman soldiers were on guard. Of course, as the scripture says, an angel of the Lord came and rolled the stone away.

Jesus appeared to His disciples and to Mary telling them to not be afraid, but to share the good news! HE IS RISEN! Jesus conquered sin and death! Glory be to God!

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:2-3).

The Bible says two bright angels appeared to the women and they were afraid. The angels said,

‘Why do you look for the living among the dead?! He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words (Luke 23:4-8).

Isn’t God amazing–He loves us so much and redeemed our sinful nature! The Lord is a God of reconciliation. He knows we are not perfect, that we fall short of His glory, but He wants us to be in His presence and to have an abundant life.

Jesus had to share in our sin and sufferings. He was the ultimate sacrificial lamb in order for the price of sin to be paid. We now have access to the throne room of God because Jesus is the High Priest and sits with God at His right hand.

In the Old Testament and the Jewish religion you had to have the High Priest go into the temple because man was too sinful to go to the Holy place of God. Now, we have access to the Lord through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death…For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:14-15, 17).

PI readers, have you received the free gift of salvation? Ask God to come into your life and receive the gift of new life through Jesus. If you already have received this gift, share your thoughts about the true meaning of Easter and why you are thankful for salvation!