Easter 2008

Easter is the biggest day on the Christian calendar. Our faith rises or falls on the validity of the resurrection. The apostle Paul says it outright in 1 Cor 15. If there is no resurrection then our faith is in vain.

But the tomb was empty - there was a resurrection.

Easter answer’s the world’s oldest question.
If a man die, will he live again? Job 14:14

Easter solves the world’s oldest problem.
The death and resurrection - God’s solution for sin.

Easter proves that Jesus alone is Savior and Lord.

The apostle Peter gives us insight into 'the net net' of the Easter message.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

Two words open the meaning of Easter. Hope and Heaven. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can know: The Presence of Hope and the Promise of Heaven.

THE PRESENCE OF HOPE

Look at the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. In them, you see the ways that God comes to us with hope for living.

Jesus' first post-resurrection action was to comfort Mary Magdelene in her sorrow. Though she initially mistook him for the gardener, when Jesus spoke her name her fears and sorrows began to melt away. (John 20) Jesus wants to...

Comfort You When You Mourn

Further, He will...

Assure You When You Doubt

The next act of the resurrected Christ, also in John 20, was to have a personal appointment with Thomas the doubter. When told of Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to the disciples in the upper room, Thomas said that he did not believe it - and would not until he could see the nail pierced hands and put his own hand in the wound in Jesus' side. Amazingly, Jesus was so patient and gracious as to make a point of coming back to the upper room on day when Thomas was among the disciples - all to let Thomas deal with his doubts and renew his faith.

After visiting Thomas, Jesus had another personal appointment - this one with the one who boasted of his loyalty then denied him with an oath. Jesus visited Peter on a lake-shore early one morning not to rebuke Peter but to restore him. As a result, Peter went from a self-pitying drop-out to a vibrant and powerful leader of the church. He preached the first sermon of the New Testament church, he wrote parts of the New Testament and his preaching inspired the Gospel of Mark. The good news for you and me is that Easter means that Jesus will...

Restore You When You Fall

He then visited his closest friends, his disciples. He had a great commission for them - the challenge of telling this life-transforming story to the entire world. But the disciples were understandably exhausted. The events of the past few days had been draining. Besides, the task of world evangelism was far too great to accomplish with human strength and strategy - even with the batteries fully charged. So, Jesus told the disciples to sit tight and that soon he would fill them with the power of the Holy Spirit. He promised to....

Fill You When You are Empty

"You are witnesses of these things. (Jesus said) And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:48-50 "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Why not pause right now and ask for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit? This promise is for you! Simply ask for the Holy Spirit to fill your life with His presence, power and guidance. Thank Him for filling you.

Save You When You Are Lost

The ultimate point of Jesus' perfect life, sacrificial death and miracle resurrection is that He wants to save you when you are lost! As was illustrated dramatically by the Damascus Road conversion of Saul, it is possible to be lost in religion. We most often think of people being lost in moral wickedness but it's possible to be far from God and yet very religious. There are many false religions designed to deceive!

Jesus said that he came to, "seek and to save those who are lost." (Luke 19:10).

Jesus death means you can be forgiven - His resurrection means that you can live forever in His grace.

THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN

In our key passage, I Peter 1:3-5, Peter says that the resurrection means not only the presence of hope for your life but also the promise of heaven.

Notice the key phrases in the text: "his great mercy" and "your faith" and "new birth."

By God's mercy you can have a new birth through your faith. You can have a new beginning. It's made possible by mercy. It is made yours by faith!

I pray that you will receive the resurrected Christ as your own Savior and Friend. When you reach out by faith, His mercy will rush to respond. All of your sins will be forgiven. You will be given a new life in Christ and the promise of heaven for your future.

If you want to know more about how you can have heaven for free, see the good news at the column to the right.