Why Easter?

Why Easter?Why Easter?

Those who know me, know that I am:Not convinced that the church celebrates the right

daysNot convinced we celebrate properlyConvinced we got the dates wrongConvinced a lot of our traditions come from pagan

rootsConvinced that Easter comes from the pagan

celebrationConvinced that there is not a more important

celebration Convinced that this is one date we get right


But, Why Easter?But, Why Easter?Jesus said in John 11:25-26 Jesus said in John 11:25-26 “I am the “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who resurrection and the life. Anyone who

believes in me will live, even after dying. believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in Everyone who lives in me and believes in

me will never ever die. Do you believe me will never ever die. Do you believe this…”this…”


Do you believe this?Do you believe this?


Why the resurrection?Why the resurrection?

Why did Jesus die?Why did Jesus die?


What happened in Genesis 3?What happened in Genesis 3?The Fall cost us:The Fall cost us:

For the woman:For the woman:Pain in childbearingPain in childbearingA desire to control your husbandA desire to control your husband““but he will rule over you”—NLT but he will rule over you”—NLT

For the man:For the man:The struggle to make a livingThe struggle to make a livingSweat and bloodSweat and bloodThe return to dustThe return to dust


We had:We had:ParadiseParadiseInnocence Innocence The joy of gardeningThe joy of gardeningDominionDominionLife Life


We gave it all up for a bite of rebellion!We gave it all up for a bite of rebellion!

It cost us everything we had!It cost us everything we had!

It cost us our life!It cost us our life!


BUT GOD is:BUT GOD is:Omniscient—Psalm 147:4; Acts 15:18Omniscient—Psalm 147:4; Acts 15:18

He knows everythingHe knows everythingHoly—His character—1 Peter 1:15Holy—His character—1 Peter 1:15

In Him is no evil, only what is “right” for lifeIn Him is no evil, only what is “right” for lifeHe is the moral/righteous standardHe is the moral/righteous standard

Just—Psalm 116:5; Romans 3:21-26Just—Psalm 116:5; Romans 3:21-26Righteousness/fair—His character in actionRighteousness/fair—His character in action

Love—John 3:16; 1 John 3:16Love—John 3:16; 1 John 3:16He seeks His will for those He lovesHe seeks His will for those He loves


BUT GOD is:BUT GOD is:True—John 14:6; Romans 3:4True—John 14:6; Romans 3:4

He is consistent with HimselfHe is consistent with Himself

Free—Isaiah 40:13-14Free—Isaiah 40:13-14He is independent of all His creaturesHe is independent of all His creatures

Omnipotent—Revelation 19:6Omnipotent—Revelation 19:6He is all powerfulHe is all powerful

Infinite—Psalm 90:2; Acts 17:24Infinite—Psalm 90:2; Acts 17:24He is outside of timeHe is outside of time


BUT GOD is:BUT GOD is: Immutable—Malachi 3:6; James 1:17Immutable—Malachi 3:6; James 1:17

He never changes—He is the sameHe never changes—He is the same

Omnipresent—Psalm 139Omnipresent—Psalm 139He is everywhere presentHe is everywhere present

Sovereign—Romans 9; Ephesians 1Sovereign—Romans 9; Ephesians 1He is above every other thing/beingHe is above every other thing/being


Therefore He wasn’t caught off guardTherefore He wasn’t caught off guard He knew this would happen before time beganHe knew this would happen before time began He devised a plan whereby we could get back our He devised a plan whereby we could get back our

life in Himlife in HimHe put on flesh—Jesus He put on flesh—Jesus

He was born sinless—2 Corinthians 5:21 He was born sinless—2 Corinthians 5:21

““For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right offering for our sin, so that we could be made right

with God through Christ.”with God through Christ.”



life in Himlife in HimHe put on flesh—JesusHe put on flesh—Jesus

He lived sinless—1 Peter 1:19 He lived sinless—1 Peter 1:19

““It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”spotless Lamb of God.”




He took our sin on Himself—Hebrews 9:28He took our sin on Himself—Hebrews 9:28

“…“… Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all

who are eagerly waiting for him.”who are eagerly waiting for him.”




He died in our place—He paid for our sin—1 John He died in our place—He paid for our sin—1 John 2:2 2:2

“ “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”



life in Himlife in HimHe put on flesh—Jesus He put on flesh—Jesus

He declared our innocence/He forgave ALL our sin—He declared our innocence/He forgave ALL our sin—1 John 1:9 “1 John 1:9 “ But if we confess our sins to him, he is But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”us from all wickedness.”

Colossians 1:13-14Colossians 1:13-14 “For he has rescued us from the “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.freedom and forgave our sins.””


JesusJesus

He purchased back our freedom!He purchased back our freedom!

He bought back our keys to paradise!He bought back our keys to paradise!

He died for this reason!He died for this reason!


All of this would have meant nothingAll of this would have meant nothing

UnlessUnless

He rose from the dead!!!!He rose from the dead!!!!

He did!!!!!He did!!!!!


He rose victoriously!He rose victoriously!

Life was and is in Jesus!Life was and is in Jesus!

That is why we celebrate EASTER!That is why we celebrate EASTER!

Resurrection Sunday!Resurrection Sunday!


What are you celebrating today?What are you celebrating today?1.1. Time with family and friends?Time with family and friends?

2.2. Easter bunnies and chocolate?Easter bunnies and chocolate?

3.3. The life of the risen Christ in you?The life of the risen Christ in you?

This is the reason for Easter!This is the reason for Easter!

The power of the life of Christ in you!The power of the life of Christ in you!

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Why Easter?