THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER

This weekend we will celebrate the greatest victory that the world has ever seen, the cross of Jesus Christ. It is the work of the cross that is central to our faith, for it was nearly 2000 years ago that you and I were forgiven, made righteous and set free from sin, the Law, and the world. All because Jesus Christ died a death that He did not deserve, and was raised up from the grave by His Father.

But the cross is more than just the place where Jesus died for our sins that we might go to heaven some day. It was on this cross that all who have placed their faith in Christ were also crucified, buried and raised up as new creations. The significance of this truth is that I am no longer the person I used to be.

No longer am I someone that is defined by my successes, or failures. By my intellect or lack thereof. By the number of friends I have, or how popular I am on social media. I am also no longer defined by the guilt and shame of what I have done, or others have done to me. No more. That person died with Christ and is gone forever. I am free from him.

Now, I am now a new creation, indwelt with the life of the God of the universe. I am now forever defined as Christ in me, even on my worst day. My definition of myself is based on the cross, not my outward performance or appearance.

Galatians 6:14-15 “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”

This is why this weekend is so special.

In the Old Testament, God instructed the Israelites to hold various annual feasts to serve as reminders of special milestones of what God accomplished for them. These feasts were never meant to be only thought of once a year, but were to guarantee that these significant events were never forgotten and were at the front of their minds all year long.

Malcolm Smith once said that for a Jew, remembering wasn’t so much going back in time to a particular event, but bringing the event of the past in to the present. Easter weekend does this for us. It is an opportunity to remember the cross and the value of what was accomplished there , namely our victory and freedom through our death, burial and resurrection with Christ.

So remember the significance of the cross for you today, because it is the cross that defines both who we are and how we now live.

Happy Easter.

In Christ who is our Life,

Ross