“Jesus VS The Chocolate Bunny”

Easter - More than Eggs, Baskets & Bunnies

During Easter there are some Holiday traditions that are celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. These folks embrace the tradition of the Easter egg hunt, the big family gatherings, Easter meals, Chocolate Bunnies, Peeps, dressing up, etc. Some also celebrate these traditions along with the more ceremonial aspects that include Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Church Services.  Some go beyond the traditions and ceremonies to fine tune their focus on the image of the suffering Christ hanging on the Cross taking upon Himself the sins of the world. They joyfully rejoice that the empty tomb, along with of Jesus’ bodily resurrection, means that Jesus’ work on the Cross really did fulfill God’s plan of salvation. The Easter Holiday we celebrate demonstrates the cost Jesus paid for our sin and that Jesus really did come back to life after His physical death.

Jesus told His disciples that after His death on the Cross He would be raised from the dead after 3 days. Jesus tied together the story of Jonah to illustrate His point.  Jonah was inside the big fish for three days before being set free to fulfill God’s command to warn the Ninevites about their city being destroyed in 40 days due to their sin. The Ninevites heeded the warning and repented from their sin. As a result God showed the people mercy and did not destroy the city of Nineveh.

   

Luke 11:29 NIV

The Sign of Jonah

As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

Matthew 16:21 NIV

Jesus Predicts His Death

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Jesus’ Work on the Cross:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 1:7 NIV 
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

John 3:16 NIV 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

It is hard to imagine celebrating someone’s torturous death. In this case, the celebration is based on the fact that Jesus willingly suffered and then He displayed His power over sin death through His resurrection.

The question to ponder is:

Do you joyfully receive Jesus’ work on the cross and resurrection, and does His work give your life a whole new meaning and purpose?

Personally, Jesus’ death for my sin has had an everlasting impact on my life and friendship with God. On the Third Day, after Jesus’ death on the Cross, He rose from the dead proving His claim about His own resurrection. When I think about Jesus’ resurrection, I get a great picture of God’s awesome love, mercy and grace for us. We are all dead to sin until the point we believe and receive by faith what Jesus did. After receiving His sacrificial work, we then become alive in Christ.

Romans 6:4 NIV

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:11 NIV

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Because of what Jesus did our lives are forever changed. We now can live with a vertically focused God- Centered perspective:

Ephesians 4:22-24 New Living Translation (NLT)

throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.   Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.   Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Because of what Jesus did, there a many new aspects of our changed life we can celebrate:

Some things Christian’s can celebrate about:

·        Being forgiven for sin  

·        Receiving the Holy Spirit  

·        Becoming a new creation in Christ  

·        Receiving eternal life

·        Reconciliation with God

·        Friendship with God

·        No longer under God’s Wrath

·        Adoption into God’s family

So, Jesus wasn’t forced to give up His life, He gave it up willingly in obedience to the father who had put together a plan of salvation because as sinners, we do not have the power to save ourselves. The fact is, there is nothing any of us can do to earn our salvation.  Those who try to earn it are missing the point. God provided a way for us to be reconciled back to Him. If we had to earn it, we would always be tipping the scales of our fate not knowing for sure if we have gained God’s favor at the time of our death. 

The plan God provided is a sure thing. Once we believe and receive Christ’s work on the Cross we are saved. It is by God’s grace that we have been saved, not by anything we have done to earn it.

Jesus rescued us from the consequences of our sinful nature which separates us from a Holy God. His blood and sacrifice covers our sin.  Once saved we are able to live the abundant life.

Ephesians 2:4-8 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ

even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

John 10:10 AMP

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Filling the God sized Hole:

If you go to the store and buy a Chocolate Bunny and eat it you may be temporarily satisfied. Your desire for chocolate has been satiated but will not last forever. In contrast, what Jesus has to offer satisfies and fills the God sized hole in our lives. Once we are saved, the Holy Spirit indwells in us and God is now a part of our lives forever.

John 4:13-14 NIV

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 7:38-39 AMP

He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, from his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. But He was speaking here of the Spirit, whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).

Jesus promises His followers the Holy Spirit:

Jesus promised His followers the Holy Spirit after His ascension into Heaven. Jesus tells His disciples that it is good that he goes away so that the Holy Spirit will becomes part of who they are, having influence, being the change agent, the teacher, the counselor, the wisdom in their lives. The benefits of The Holy Spirit coming and residing in the believer’s life are many.

John 16:7 NIV 
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Some benefits of being filled with the Holy Spirit:

·        Teaches us the meaning of God’s Word

·        Helps us apply God’s Word to our lives

·        Guides us in truth and in life

·        Comforts us

·        Convicts us when we sin

·        Strengthens us to live for God and love others

·        Helps us persevere,

·        Provides us wisdom and discernment

·        Reminds us of the things Jesus said, etc.

God promised us the Holy Spirit and delivered. The Holy Spirit is the seal and sign of our salvation.

Ephesians 1:13 NIV 
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

Easter is a great time for Christians to remember the impact of Jesus’ work on the cross.  Followers of Jesus should also be concerned about those people who do not know God's amazing love and saving grace. For this reason, a life changed through knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior should exemplify gratitude, mercy, compassion and Christ-like love in order to make a great impact on everyone, as well as those people whose hearts are ready to hear and receive the Gospel. Most important to note is that the depth in which they love others shows how much they love and value God and His principles.

Maybe this Easter you will meet someone whose heart has been prepared by God to receive the Good News. So be sure to reflect the sweet fragrance of Christ whose everlasting love brings hope, new life and new beginnings.

Just Sayin………………..Dave