Isaiah 53:4 Surely, He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
As dawn breaks over the horizon, a stillness hangs in the air—a hushed anticipation that something larger than life has occurred. Can you imagine the aftermath, how the believers were feeling. I now understand why Jesus instructed the disciples, and those that followed him to go to the upper room and wait for the Holy Spirit to come. That would help them to understand what had taken place. What we know today as Easter morning, a time when Christians around the world are coming alive from their fasting, reflecting, and being in prayer during the Lent season. They have been engaging in events during the Holy Week, which usher them into the brilliant light of Resurrection Day.
But what does Easter truly mean to the believer? It's a story woven through Scripture with the promise of hope. The unbelievable betrayal of a friend (Judas), and the cruelty through pain and suffering given to our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of mankind was not justified. In the hearts of those that witnessed this life altering event, they had the obligation to tell the story and never allow future generations to forget the phenomenal price of redemption that we received by the finished work of Christ.
At the very heart of Christianity lies the Easter narrative, an event that is far more than a mere historical event. It's the turning point upon which the Christian faith is built, the defining moment that separates despair from hope, death from life. The Apostle Paul captures this in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." The resurrection is not just an exercise of faith; it is the ultimate of faith, the beginning, and the end of who we are at our core of being ransomed and redeemed as children of the most high God.
To understand Easter, you must journey back to the ancient texts. To the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament. Isaiah 53 speaks of a suffering servant, one who would be "pierced for our transgressions" and "crushed for our iniquities." This we see fulfilled in the narrative of the New Testament, where Jesus enters Jerusalem where there were palm-waving crowds, those that claim to support him, but they did not know him or his mission for being here on Earth. Some of those same people were used to be part of the betrayal, trial, and crucifix, within the span of a week.
The crucifixion, a brutal and public disgraceful form of execution, marks Good Friday, a day that seems to be no good happening. It's a day where the 'good' is hidden beneath the surface of victory in surrender. Yet, it's good precisely, because this sacrifice embodies the greatest love story ever told. In John 3:16, "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’s a narrative where love and suffering come together so intimately that they become one.
And then comes the silence of Holy Saturday, a day of reflection and waiting, where the light of hope seems to flicker and fade. It is within this silence that the mystery of faith lies in hope, awaiting the dawn that is to come. Believers not knowing what to expect and what the future holds for them.
With the first light of the first day of the week, the Gospel accounts in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20 tell of an empty tomb, of an angelic message, of a Risen Lord. Mary Magdalene, among the first to have witnessed this miracle, becomes a messenger of hope to the apostles as she proclaims, "I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18). The resurrection breaks the chains of death, not just for Jesus, but for all who would believe in Him.
Easter is a celebration of life, a recognition that death does not have the final word. It is a day when Christians declare that love is stronger than death, hope is more persistent. Let us continue to triumph in the victory, that Jesus have given us. Let us become messengers that carry the good news to everyone we see that Jesus has risen and is now at the right hand of the father, interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)
I pray this has been helpful to you. Please share with others. Leave your comments, and questions. I look forward to staying connected to you!