This week is Easter weekend. For many in our country it is just a long holiday weekend. The supermarkets are full of hot cross buns, easter eggs and easter bunnies and this is how Easter is celebrated. But for Christians, Easter holds a special significance. It is central to our faith. Over the weekend, we remember the significant events that took place in Jerusalem more that 2000 years ago. These include the Passover meal in the upper room, Jesus’ betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane, his followers abandoning him, his trial and humiliation, his death on the cross, his burial and his resurrection. All of these events are full of incredible meaning and are central to our faith. 1 Corinthians 15 is a wonderful passage about the Resurrection of Christ and what this means to us. I especially like verse 17.
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
In other passages, Jesus clearly linked our forgiveness to his death. In Matthew 26:28, whilst in the upper room, Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” But how do we know that Jesus was correct? How do we know that he achieved by his death what he said he would do? How do we know that God has accepted his death in our place as a full and perfect sacrifice for our sins?
The simple answer is that, if Christ had remained dead, we would never have known. Without the resurrection his death would have been a failure, the apostles would be false witnesses, we would be unforgiven, dead Christians would be lost forever and we of all people are the most to be pitied.
But praise God, we are assured of God’s forgiveness, and our salvation is secure. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, God has assured us that he approved of his sin-bearing death. Christ did not die in vain, and everyone who trusts in him receives full and free forgiveness for their sins.
Have a blessed Easter as we remember the true meaning of Easter and celebrate all that Christ has done for us on the cross.