The two most important holidays that are celebrated each year are Christmas and Easter. They both are celebrated due to one Man and his effect on all mankind. This man is Jesus Christ who was born an earthly birth and as such had an earthly death. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus and Easter celebrates his Resurrection. Today we will study how the Resurrection effects all mankind and why it is an important day for Christians all over the world.

Of Course in order to have a Resurrection there had to be a death first. Lets look at the death of this man called Jesus. A man who was born by means of a natural earthly birth. A birth to a woman who was engaged to a carpenter. A woman who was not royalty nor was she in-mortal. A normal woman who was not free from sin nor was she married at the time of conception. A conception that was not of a sinful manner, rather an immaculate conception.First lets look at what the Bible says about the conception. Luke writes in the first chapter verses 26-35:

Luk 1:26-35 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, (27) To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. (28) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (29) And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. (30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. (31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew writes in chapter 1

Mat 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Thus fulfilling the old testament prophecy written in Isaiah:

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

So Christians Celebrate the Birth of their saviour on Christmas day. Some dispute rather or not this is the actual day of the birth. However the celebration of his birth has the same impact on man no matter what the actual date of his birth is. The fact that he was born into this world in order to fulfill prophecy and that he will be put to death to save all mankind is the relevancy. Easter Sunday we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and the defeat of death. The Friday before Easter Sunday called good Friday is the day of his death. His death is as important to us as a Christian as his Resurrection. See with out his shed blood, we would still owe the debt of our sins. So lets discuss the death, which was his blood shed for us. In Isaiah we are told:

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

He was wounded, bruised and chastised for us. These words do not completely describe the pain and agony our Saviour suffered so as our death would not be painful. And that our death would not be an end rather a beginning.See Jesus suffered the infliction not just of the cross, but the horrific beating he took before being placed on the cross. Jesus suffered so we could have eternal life, so our sins could be forgiven and our slates wiped clean. Jesus died in order to pardon everyone of the sins they commit. Jesus was sent from the Fathers side in Heaven to suffer a human birth, life, and horrific death so man kind could be saved by Grace.

Here are two excerpts from two different writers of the story of the crucifixion and the suffering.It is just a brief portion of the final days of the life of Christ here on Earth.The story of his final days gets complexed and long so we will not go into detail here just laying a little ground work to allow you to understand the birth and death so you may more easily understand the Resurrection and importance of it.

Mat 27:28-31 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. (29) And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! (30) And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. (31) And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Mar 15:17-20 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, (18) And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! (19) And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. (20) And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

Jesus was the final blood sacrifice fulfilling all blood sacrifices forever. We no longer need to offer blood sacrifices in order to be forgiven. Now at the time of Jesus death he was taken down from the cross given to Joseph to be placed in his tomb.

Luk 23:50-53 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (51) (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. (52) This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. (53) And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Two accounts of the burial and Resurrection written in Matthew and Luke.

Luk 24:1-15 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. (3) And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: (5) And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (7) Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. (8) And they remembered his words, (9) And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. (10) It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. (11) And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. (12) Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. (13) And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. (14) And they talked together of all these things which had happened. (15) And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. Mat 27:60-66 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (61) And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. (62) Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, (63) Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. (64) Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (65) Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. (66) So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

So lets break this all down. First of course Jesus had to shed his blood in order for us to have forgiveness of our sins. Then he was placed in a tomb with a stone placed in front of the tomb to keep any one from entering the tomb there was also two Guards placed to watch over the tomb. Then on the first morning of the week Mary Magdelene and Mary went to the tomb and they found it empty.

The empty tomb meant that prophecy was fulfilled and that Jesus had risen and is alive. Because Jesus rose and is alive reigning on his rightful throne all mankind can also have eternal life in the presence of Jesus. That though death will still come to all man it is no longer an end. Instead it is only a temporary time until we are also called from the grave into our rightful place to be forever in the presence of the Lord.

1Th 4:13-17 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

We will all be in a sleepful; state until the time as come and the Lord will call us unto him where we shall be forever with him. According to John the only man that has ascended to heaven is the one who come from heaven.

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

We have to remember that through the blood we are saved by Grace. There was no way any one person could pay their own debt for the wrongs they would do while walking the earth.Salvation could not be earned, it is not a reward that one gets. Instead it is a gift freely given to us by God through the shed blood of his son whom he sent to earth.How wonderful that God is not like man, how wonderful it is that God did not judge and condemn only. Instead he judged the world unfit, condemned us all to death, then gave us all a pardon through the shedding of the Blood. He allows all mankind to receive this gift freely through faith.

God did not send his son to condemn us.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God gave true justice. Not just judgement, he also provided a way to be rehabilitated from the old self. He provided a true justice, one that could not be corrupted because man is in charge. God is incorruptible,perfect and fair he doesn't have personal gains or conflicts in his judgement. He judges based on the heart of the person, not based on what that person may have done in the past or may do in the future. He holds no personal grudge and doesn't hold prior sins against you. He allows all mankind to get equal justice based on faith through grace. He doesn't require one to continue to suffer through unjust punishment of a corruptible system that you have no possibility of ever truly being finished with the punishment.

The importance of Easter to Christians is more then Easter eggs and Chocolate. It is to celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive and that the tomb where he was placed is empty.

Pastor David Azbell

4/14/07