Easter is almost upon us and for many Christians--it's a day of rejoicing because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, rose from the dead, as He said He would.
"Then the angel spoke to the women, "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying." (The Bible Matthew 28:5)
While most of the western world recognizes that Jesus Christ died on Good Friday and rose on Easter Sunday over two thousand years ago, that constitutes much of the world's understanding. But Jesus' death and resurrection was more than that.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took human form and became man so that we could regain right standing with God once again (our right standing was lost when the first man, Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden). Since that time, the world has awaited a Savior in the person of Jesus Christ. During Jesus' three year ministry, He preached the Gospel or Good News and established a religion called Christianity which has radically changed the face of the planet--even today.
Jesus knew He was destined to die a horrible death, yet He accepted it as His fate because it was the only solution to the problem--the only way to appease His Father's wrath and divine sense of justice. Just as we expect a just sentence against any criminal act, God the Just Judge, exacts the same kind of justice. As humans (and sinners) we were incapable of standing rightly before God. Only Jesus, His Son, was able to make all things right with Him. So, in a sense, Jesus was the Fall Guy. While He didn't deserve to die on the cross for anything He did, He took our accountability on His shoulders. He suffered so we wouldn't have to suffer and carried our cross so we wouldn't have to carry it ourselves. Jesus was the Fall Guy to the Nth degree.
During His ministry, Jesus often pointed to Himself as the way, the truth and the life because He was trying to lead all people back to the real truth--not the world's version of it.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (The Bible John 14:6)
Jesus also dared to challenge the political, religious establishment of His time. His straightforward and unorthodox ways got the attention of the religious leaders who saw Him as a serious threat--which opened the door to His betrayal by one of His disciples, His subsequent arrest and finally, His death on the cross.
Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday shows us that we too, like Him, can live forever. Easter is not just a celebration of Jesus' triumphant victory over death but the promise of eternal life (heaven) for anyone who can say in truth, "Jesus Christ is Lord".
