Why do we celebrate Easter? – GraceLove Ministries International

In the Christian faith, Easter is the most important celebration, held in memory of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Jesus Christ, God’s son, was falsely accused by the religious elite of the time, convicted to death, and nailed to a cross by Roman soldiers. However, the Bible teaches us that it was all part of God’s plan. When Jesus, who Himself was without sin, died on the cross He died in our place for the sins of all mankind.

The Prophet Isaiah describes the death of Jesus on the cross, and what it means for us today, like this:

³ He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. ⁴Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Is. 53: 3-7)

On the cross Jesus took the sin of all of humanity on Himself, so that we could be liberated from sin and shame and live a life in close fellowship with God, our Creator. According to Hebrews, Jesus through the sacrifice of Himself put away sin – once and for all (Heb. 9:26).

The Apostle Paul teaches us that through the death of Jesus on the cross, God has reconciled the world to Himself and no longer holds the sins of the world against the world. This means that God does not hold your sins against you. He sees the whole world, including you, in light of what happened on the cross.

Not only did Jesus die for the sins of the whole world; He also carried our sicknesses and sorrows. If you are sick in your body today, or feeling bad in your soul, God is not the author of this. He wants you to be well and healthy in your body and soul. Healing is available for us today because of the death of Jesus on the cross.

There was also something else that happened on the cross: The law of Moses with its commandments and ordinances was nailed to the cross together with Jesus (Col. 2:14, Eph. 2:14-16). Jesus fulfilled the law so that we would not have to live in a relationship with God where it’s all about rules and regulations. The way to have a relationship with God based on His unconditional love is now open to all men and nations – through faith in Jesus Christ.

The story does not end with the death on the cross, which took place on Good Friday 2000 years ago, though. On the third day, on Easter Day the following Sunday morning, God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus is not dead. He is not lying in a grave somewhere in Jerusalem. He is alive today. And everyone who calls on the name of Jesus shall be saved (Rom. 10:13).

The Gospel of John, chapter 3 and verse 16, describes it like this:

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:16)

Because of what happened during Easter 2000 years ago, eternal life is available to everyone who believes in Jesus.

When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, that He died for our sins and rose from the dead, and choose to receive Him in our hearts by confessing Him as Lord with our mouths, something supernatural happens on the inside. We become new creations and receive new life in our innermost being, in our spirit. The Bible describes this as being “born again”. The old is gone and something completely new has come. This new life is available to each and every one of us because Jesus rose from the dead.

If you would like to receive this new life, the eternal life, you can simply pray to God like this:

“God, thank You that Your Son Jesus Christ died for my sins. Thank You for raising Jesus from the dead. Jesus, come and live in my heart. You are my Lord.”