The centre of our Christian faith is the story of Jesus’s death, burial, and triumphant resurrection. Each year Christians around the world gather together to remember the greatest day in history: Easter Sunday. The importance of Jesus’ resurrection cannot be overstated. The Apostle Paul boldly states "If there’s no resurrection, there’s no living Christ. And face it - if there’s no resurrection for Christ, everything we’ve told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you’ve staked your life on is smoke and mirrors. Not only that, but we would be guilty of telling a string of barefaced lies about God, all these affidavits we passed on to you verifying that God raised up Christ—sheer fabrications, if there’s no resurrection.(1 Co 15:12–15). Paul knew that the resurrection was the cornerstone to his faith. The resurrection was the fact of history that he was willing to stake his life on. And in fact, if the resurrection was not true, Paul said that he was a liar. Yes, the resurrection is critical to our faith.
From the beginning of time, God had a plan to save His people from their sins. Out of His immeasurable love, He made a way for you and me as rebellious sinners to escape the punishment we deserved, by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live the life we could never live. The cross and resurrection of Jesus is the central point of redemption in history. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is God’s answer to every aspect of sin and evil and their destructive effects on creation. Paul explained to the Ephesians that, “even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him” (Eph 2:5-6). The resurrection is central to our faith and the life that we now live. God acted out of his great love for us providing salvation for all who believe. This is not something that we have earned or achieved on our own, rather it is the gift of God enabled by the cross of Christ and the empty tomb, and received by faith alone (Eph 2:4,8-10). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the assurance that in the same way that Christ was raised, we too, will also be raised to new life. (1 Cor 15:20-23).
At Easter time, we are reminded that Jesus was arrested and at the request of the crowds, was ordered to be crucified. He was beaten and mocked and nailed to a cross. On that Friday, He died. They took His body and buried it in a tomb. But the story did not end here. On Sunday morning, God miraculously raised Jesus from the dead!
Easter Sunday celebrates the greatest day in history. Easter Sunday reminds us who God is, what God has done, and what God is doing. This Easter, take some time to pause, reflect, and give praise to our amazing God, and the love and grace that He has shown to us! He was willing to sacrifice His own Son, so that we can enjoy eternity with Christ as our Lord and Saviour. The Greatest Day in History!
Michael Hanson
Executive Director