Easter is the time of year when we reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s when many people, who don’t usually attend church, attend church and hear truth, sometimes for the first time. If you are a follower of Christ, the truth about Easter is, you have a lot to celebrate. And if you don’t know Christ as your Lord and Savior, this Easter could have a greater meaning for you.
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
I’ve seen so many social media posts lately discouraging Christians from celebrating Easter because it is a pagan holiday and/or not in the Bible. I would argue that this type of advice look more like the devil trying to make us ineffective in sharing the Gospel rather than an attempt to be obedient to God’s Word. We see in the institution of the Lord’s Supper that God calls us to celebrate and remember what He has done for us through Christ. Most churches in the United States report higher attendance on Easter Sunday. That means on Easter Sunday people will hear the Gospel for the first time. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, people will come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Just like at Christmas time, another celebration not in the Bible, I got to experience some of the joy of Easter as an unbeliever. I have a sweet tooth, and Easter arguably has the best candy of any other holiday. For years, I enjoyed Easter dinner, Easter baskets, and Easter egg hunts. However, I did not realize the true joy of Easter until I became a follower of Christ. It was during the Easter season that I realized that the Word of God is the greatest proof of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
God’s Redemptive Plan
But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Matthew 26:56
When I began to rightly view the Holy Bible as the Word of God, I began to see how all of it points to Jesus. For many years, I believed it was just stories from men throughout history who wrote about their own experiences with God. I did not realize that the entire book was God detailing for His people, His redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. The entire Bible is the Gospel story.
Because of this, when we read Scripture we should always consider where it fits into the overall narrative of creation, the fall, redemption through Christ, and future restoration. That’s why it is also not a good practice to separate verses or books from the rest of Scripture. I like devotionals, but I encourage you to never treat any verse or book of the Bible like an island unto itself. Read the verses around it, read the cross references, and read it in it’s entirety. You will have a greater understanding of and appreciation for Scripture when you understand the context and how it fits into the full story.
The Gospels
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37
For many years, I, like many unbelievers, didn’t understand why we needed four gospels and why they were so different. I love a good mystery, especially when the good guys outsmart the bad guys. I’ve watched enough mysteries to know that the gospel accounts are exactly what it looks like to have multiple witnesses to the same event. There will always be differences, but the truth is the same. A lot of the differences found in the gospel accounts have more to do with different audiences and perspectives. For this reason, some gospel writers found certain details more important to their message, while others might have left those details out.
When we read all four of the gospels we see a complete picture of Jesus Christ. In Matthew, we see Jesus’ royalty as the promised Messiah fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. Mark shows us Jesus the Servant through the miracles He performed. In Luke, we see Jesus as the Son of Man and hope for our salvation. In John, we see the deity of Jesus and the case for why we should believe that He is God. All should be read to truly understand who Jesus is and His mission.
The Disciples
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
There is no greater testimony to the resurrection of Jesus than the lives of the disciples. After Easter, read Acts and see how in Christ these men were a new creation. They go from being cowards before the resurrection of Christ, to men willing to lose everything including their lives in order to preach the resurrection of Christ. Peter, who denied knowing Jesus when confronted by a servant girl, is later imprisoned, beaten, and crucified upside down for His unwavering faith.
The disciples truly did demonstrate what it looks like to be a new creation in Christ, which I spoke about last week. Like them, our God has power over death, and that should make us bold and make us take up our cross daily. These men were not perfect, however, they no longer lived for themselves after the resurrection of Jesus. They lived for Him and it could be seen in their daily actions, how they spent their time and resources, and their courage to stand for truth and reject lies.
Anchored To The Truth of Easter
Easter can be more than a yearly holiday for you. It can be a truth that you celebrate all year long. All you need to do is turn from your sin to your Savior. I would love to hear from you. Send me an email through my Contact Page.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Just like Christmas, I love to spend this time of year reflecting on what God has done for me. A great way to do this is to read through the gospel accounts of these events. Anchor yourself to the truth found in God’s Word. Reject the lies the world tells you about Easter.
Be sure to download my Anchored To The Truth of Easter reading plan and garland. You can find this and other Bible and prayer resources on my Resources Page. This Easter, invite others to church and celebrate all God has done for you.