Easter hits a homerun!

When I was a kid Easter meant chocolate bunnies, those absolutely terrible little marshmallow creatures called “Peeps”, a brightly colored basket with plastic grass and new starched shirts and pants that were only suitable for wearing to church. I was always hopeful that there would be a toy or two in the basket and usually there was a little something, but all in all it wasn’t my favorite holiday.

What did I know? Not much.

Easter means a lot more to me these days. Mostly it is because I have decided that I will be following Jesus from here on out. Oh sure, I still struggle with sin, but I know who I can take it to, and ask for help, Jesus.

That’s a game-changer for sure.

I am by no means an expert on Holy Week, Jesus, or even the resurrection, but I can tell you why I believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so important. Hopefully it will make sense to you.

Very simply, Jesus did what He said He would do. He said that He would be persecuted and killed before being raised from the dead on the third day. Then He actually did it. I have to say that right there is enough for me to follow the guy.

In the Gospel of Matthew we read, “Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive.” (Matt. 16:21 Msg.). So there it was, Jesus put it out there. He tells us, “here is what I am going to do.” And He also explained that it was “necessary”.

Why was it necessary? Because He already knew about you and me. He knew that we would be born into sin and that we wouldn’t make it into heaven without Him. He even already knew about each of the sins that we would be guilty of. It is why it was necessary for Jesus to do the only thing that would cleanse us of those sins.

I have to say that I really do identify with that little piece of “bumpersticker theology” that says “It was not the nails that kept Jesus on the cross, it was His love for you.” Because looking back on it from 2,000 years down the road, we can clearly see that as the incarnation of God, Jesus could have gotten off of that cross easier that you or I can step off our front porch. But it was His love for us that made all of the difference. It had to be done.

It makes a difference because it has provided us with hope. What do you mean? you might ask. Well I think that the apostle Paul explains it pretty well in his first letter to the church at Corinth.

He says, “If corpses can’t be raised, then Christ wasn’t, because he was indeed dead. And if Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It’s even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they’re already in their graves. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.” (1 Cor. 15:16-20 Msg.)

Wow! So let’s get this right then. Since Jesus was raised from the dead, then as His followers, (which is the same as being family), we will also be raised from the dead when He returns? Yep! Woo hoo! I am SO in!

But wait a minute! How do we know that Jesus really was raised from the dead? I mean when I was a kid it all seemed like some sort of fairy tale.

Well, Paul points out that the resurrection of Jesus was not secret. Jesus didn’t hide or try to avoid being seen. It is a historical recorded fact that Jesus did what He said he would. Paul says, “The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me.” (1 Cor. 15:3-8 Msg.)

That sure sounds like a first hand account to me. So if Jesus stepped up the plate, pointed His divine bat at the center field wall and then proceeded to knock it out of the park, who am I to do anything but to stand in awe of the One who has saved me, my Messiah, the eternal clean-up hitter.

The game completely hinges upon Jesus delivering on His promise. And He did. He beat death and He beat it for each of us. Why you wouldn’t want to be on the winning team is beyond me.

Quit that other team! Jesus wants you suiting up for Him!

Happy Easter!