Easter – the Greatest Story Ever!

 

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy a good story – especially a true story about someone who overcomes obstacles, endures setbacks, and achieves victory. This, my friends, is why I believe Easter is the greatest story ever. Let me explain.

Before the creation of the world, God conceived a plan. Then, He carried it out (over many centuries). God revealed His plan through His prophets. As a cornerstone of His plan, God promised His people that a “deliverer” would come.

When we fit the pieces of prophecy together, we can see God’s bigger picture unfold through the person of Jesus Christ. In Scripture, the “deliverer” is described in remarkable detail so everyone will be able to recognize him.

Jesus – the Early Years (as foretold by the prophets)

He will be a stumbling stone for Israel (Isaiah 8:14). He will descend from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) through the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12). He will be born from a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). He will be given gifts by wise men (Isaiah 60:3 and Psalm 72:10-11). He will grow up unimportant and be physically undesirable (Isaiah 53:2). He will speak in parables (Psalm 78:2). The spirit of the Lord will rest on Him and His ministry will be announced in the desert (Isaiah 40:3-5).

Jesus – His Ministry (as foretold by the prophets)

He will open blind eyes, free prisoners, heal the broken hearted, pray for His enemies, and bring justice to the nations (Isaiah 35:5, 61:1). He will be rejected (Psalm 118:22), betrayed by a friend for thirty pieces of silver (Psalm 41:9 and Zechariah 11:12), and be hated without cause (Psalm 69:4).

Jesus – His Death and Resurrection (as foretold by the prophets)

Silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7), He will be struck and spit at (Isaiah 50:6) and His hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:16 and Zechariah 12:10). During His death, His clothes will be divided up by lot (Psalm 22:18), He will be offered gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21) and His bones will not be broken (Psalm 34:20). He will suffer greatly (Psalm 22:14), die for the sins of others (Isaiah 53:5-6, 12), be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9), and be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10 and Hosea 6:2).

Do you see how these prophecies match Jesus’s life?

It is significant to note that the death and resurrection of Jesus is not the end of the story. Jesus is sitting at the right side of the Father and one day, we will stand before them. There will be no exceptions – each one of us will stand before God. And, when we do, the “only” thing that’s going to matter is this… did we know and follow Jesus?

Are you ready to stand before God?

To put it another way, is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?

If not, all you need to do is:

• Ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins and save you from eternal separation from God
• Accept His work and death on the cross as payment for your sins
• Thank Jesus for providing a way back to God
• Ask Him to give you the strength, wisdom, and determination to walk in the center of God’s will and live for Him

Salvation is available to anyone who confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord.

At the end of the day, Easter can be distilled down into this… you are loved!

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him. John 3:16 and 17 (NIRV)

This is the reason Christians around the world celebrate Easter.

Happy Easter!

If you would like to learn more about the greatest story ever (Easter), check out my book Rediscovering the Divine: Seeing God in a Whole New Way.