So, what’s the big deal about Easter?

Rev. Michael Herrin, Pastor First Presbyterian Church of Donalsonville

 

Why do Christians celebrate the fact that a man named Jesus walked out of His tomb on the third day after He was executed by Roman soldiers some 2000 years ago just outside of Jerusalem?

Because Jesus’ resurrection proves that everything He said about Himself is true.  For He didn’t claim to be just a prophet or a teacher or even a miracle-working healer.  No, He claimed to be the Son of God, and His triumph over death proves that He does indeed have divine power.

And because He is who He said He is, Jesus’ resurrection proves that His sacrificial death was absolutely necessary.  For if there was any other way for anyone to be restored to a right relationship with our divine creator, if any ethical system or self-help program could make any of us acceptable in the sight of God, then the Son of God did not need to die. 

But because He rose from the dead, we can be sure that His sacrifice was indeed accepted as payment of the death penalty that all of us rebels and traitors against God deserve.  Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can be certain that all who trust in Him as Savior and bow the knee to Him as Lord are forgiven and received into the very family of God.

Yes, the resurrection proves Jesus’ ability to give us new life, eternal life, after we die.  But He can also give us new life, resurrection life today, life that is no longer trapped in self-centered, self-destructive desires, but life that is free to serve the Lord, loving others in the same sort of self-sacrificial way that Jesus loved us on the cross.

That’s why we Christians worship the Lord every week.  Join us on this Resurrection Sunday at First Presbyterian Church or the church of your choice.