This weekend, we celebrate the most important holiday in the history of Christendom. Easter. Or as some prefer to call it, Resurrection Sunday. This is the day we recognize that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, rose from the borrowed tomb, conquering death, thwarting Satan’s plan, and ushering in a New Covenant and way to come to God.
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.” Even more directly, He said in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (KJV) This statement was at the same time a prophecy to his rising from the dead and a claim to be the means or the way of salvation.
First, let’s look at Jesus’ words as prophecy. In the beginning, approximately 6000 years ago, according to to most Christians, Genesis records the story of Adam and Eve falling into sin. The serpent or Satan deceived the couple into disobeying God’s command. We read these prophetic words in Genesis 3:15, “he (the woman’s offspring) will crush your head (Satan), and you will strike his heel.” Christian scholars interpret the woman’s offspring to be Jesus. The “heel strike” is commemorated on Good Friday as Satan attempts to crucify and eradicate Jesus once and for all. The “head crushing” is celebrated Easter Sunday as we witness “death could not hold Him” (Acts 2:24) and he rises from the grave victoriously over sin and death.
Several other Biblical passages point prophetically to Jesus’ resurrection. David writes in Psalm 16:10, “because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 both predict in detail this historic event. Even Jesus himself spoke specifically about his death and resurrection when He said, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
Second, let’s look at Jesus’ claim to be “the life.” Jesus is quoted as saying again and again in the Gospels that belief in Him is a necessity to have eternal life. Belief in his claims to deity, kingship, and Messiahship. After His resurrection, we read in the books of Acts that the Apostles taught not only believing in Jesus, but also repentance of sins and baptism by immersion for forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter proclaims on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized every one of you for the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Our baptism is now vitally significant in that we become one with Jesus through a symbolic death and resurrection akin to His own. Romans 6:4 summarizes it like this, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Easter Sunday represents Jesus’ victory over death, sin, and Satan. None of these has any power over Him any longer. This victory is won once and for all time! That is reason to celebrate! If you have made Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of your life, your future is certain and secure. If you haven’t, why wait? Maybe your own decision about Jesus will happen this week?!