The extra-long, long weekend that we enjoy in New Zealand is on account of one of the most important religious events on the Christian calendar. Since most Kiwis don’t know a lot about what this is all about, this tract explains the personal significance of one part of the “Easter” weekend, and invites readers to receive what Jesus offers for themselves.
Easter is best known for two events. The first is the death of Jesus by crucifixion on a cross during the time of the Roman Empire. The second is his resurrection on the third day. The name “Easter” originated much later and is related to the name of the month during which these events were remembered in early-medieval northern Europe.
It is still commonly known that the reason for Jesus’ death was for the forgiveness of sin. But the significance of Jesus’ resurrection is not so well known. On the third day following his death on the cross, Jesus was restored to life in his body. By this resurrection, he secured a hope for his people: that they too will conquer death.
Death and dying is a fact of life as we know it. But life as we know it is not life as it was made to be. Humans were not made to die: it is an experience of life that is unnatural. When God made mankind, he did not make us to suffer disease and disability and decline, to eventually die.
But the experience of dying is one we all face sooner or later. When our turn comes, we must leave behind everything we know and love. When death comes to claim us, we will be helpless to deny it.
But God the Creator has not left us helpless against this enemy of death. God can also be our Redeemer. Jesus—the Son of God who became also a son of man—was given so that he would enter into death, just as every one of us will do. His life was given as a sacrifice for our sin, so we could be accepted by God. He died, but he passed through death and re-entered life in his body, resurrected by the power of God. Jesus has opened the pathway for his people to one day follow him out of death and to enter into the new life that he now experiences.
Jesus gives relief from the lonely plight of the dying, and peace when death prowls by our door. He will be with those who love him, ready to escort us to God not only as welcomed guests but even as loved sons and daughters.
For Jesus’ people, death is an end but not the end. With Jesus, death has no permanent hold.
The people of Jesus receive a patient, expectant, confident hope.
It is a confident hope based on Jesus’ resurrection.
It waits expectantly for our own resurrection; to live forever with the living God.
It is a hope that lets us face the trauma of death without despair or terror.
It is a hope that lets us see beyond the waiting grave and to the life that lies beyond.
This is the good news of Easter Sunday. Christ’s sacrifice is accepted, his message endorsed.
Christ has conquered death and has secured resurrection life for his people too. The message of the gospel invites all people to entrust themselves to him—his hand is ready to take hold of yours, carry you through death when it comes, and into the life he promises on the other side. Christ’s people will live again on this earth and have lives to enjoy with one another and voices to give praise to the Redeemer.
The message of Easter Sunday is an invitation to join Christ’s people in this confidence. The step of joining with Christ and his people involves three things. The first is repentance: a life of quitting and refusing things that God hates. The second is faith: an acceptance of and trust in Jesus and what he has achieved. The third is commitment: following Jesus in both his example and his instruction.
- Want to talk? Get in touch HERE.
- Want to read about what Jesus taught about Resurrection? Read this article from Crossway HERE.
- Skeptical about the resurrection of Jesus? You can find out about helpful content discussing this HERE.
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