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Jesus rose from the dead. Some believe that; most don’t. Churches worldwide are withering just like the fig tree that Jesus cursed. We have Easter egg hunts to keep the kids and their parents entertained. Easter is more about pretty than it is about hope. We should ask ourselves, is Easter egg-hunting sound doctrine for children like Santa Clause is for Christmas?
Both “holidays” are about giving. God gave his only begotten son. First, he put Jesus in a manger, helpless child; God protected him until it was time to give him again. The first giving meant that royalty was humbled to walk among wretched men. The second giving was to redeem those same men from damnation.
Damnation. There’s something we don’t talk about much. We Christians quote John 3:16, For God so loved the world He gave………………and continuing that Christ didn’t come into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Why wasn’t He condemning the world? Damnation, it was condemned already.
We like to think we understand God, maker of the universe, the giver of life, where all the bucks stop. No other name by which we must be saved; are we really that bad. Some of us are kinda good at least we seem so on the outside. But we are old wineskins; pouring the new wine in us is a waste because it just runs out. Somehow we don’t realize we are naked, blind, and bathed in a sinful world. We cloak ourselves in self-righteousness. Surely we haven’t done anything to deserve damnation!
If you haven’t read Romans chapter one lately, read it. Slowly. Chew every verse. Verse 21 tells us that while we knew God (Adam and Eve), we glorified Him not as God, neither were we thankful. And because of our vain imaginations (reasonings), we became fools and our hearts were darkened. In our “wisdom” we became fools by making the glory of an incorruptible God equal with the other gods we create. Just like Adam and Eve, our hearts are deceitfully wicked. We don’t understand that. The greatest deceiver isn’t embodied in anyone else; it is ourselves.
Back to Easter. Everything changed the day the stone was rolled away. After two thousand years, we preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have now reached the time in church history where Christianity wants to become seeker-friendly. It seems we must find some feel-good thing to attract attendees. Programs, we got programs. Music, oh is the music good. Sermons (not too long) that just tickle the ears. That’s the American church. Not all but too many.
The church in China, India and elsewhere don’t celebrate like we do. Quietly, underground; there’s a price to pay for serving God. God paid a price for us; Jesus paid it all. What are we willing to deny ourselves to follow Christ. Carrying the cross wasn’t something Jesus wanted to do. Following Him requires the same commitment. It isn’t something we want to do. He tells us to count the cost. Following Him will cost you everything the world has to offer. But like when Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, we too can say no knowing that Satan has nothing to offer. We love Christ because while we were yet sinners, he died for us in our place to satisfy a debt we could not pay.
First Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Jesus entered the tomb, the place of the dead; he conquered death and the grave. And now he wants to enter us, dead in our trespasses and sins and give us the privilege of being his brother and a child of God. Therein lies our hope in a hopeless world. Jesus lives and we shall live with Him! We have been raised from the dead.