Implications of Easter
Published on April 3, 2023 at 11:32pm EDT | Author: Chad Koenen
0By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom
Harvest Fellowship Church
What are the implications of Easter? Of Easter Sunday? Is there greater depth and meaning than a fun, fuzzy, holiday filled with eggs and bunnies? Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that Easter in northern Minnesota means that Spring is almost (actually) here. And, I enjoy the excitement on my younger children’s faces when they go find eggs filled with chocolate. But…is there more?
Despite the intense commercialization of the holiday, most people have at least heard that Easter stands for something much greater. And if the implications about God that are celebrated on Easter are true, they are indeed life transforming, groundbreaking, and world changing. Because at its core, what Easter represents is life from the dead.
Now, we all know that life after death is naturally impossible. The breath leaves, the body decays, the grave awaits. And then…nothing. And if ‘that’s it’, that is a truly depressing state of affairs.
Enter Jesus. If the world’s history were a grand play, Jesus’ supernatural arrival and life would be the scene that completely changes the plot. Why? Well, the Bible teaches that Jesus, in addition to being born into this world as God wearing flesh, then lived a perfect life and laid down that perfect life as a sacrifice upon a brutal torture device—a Roman crucifix. Through it, he paid the price for everything we have done wrong in the eyes of God. Astounding. This means we can be forgiven and have a relationship with our creator. But what’s even more amazing, is that according to the Bible, Jesus did not stay dead. He was the first to be raised by the power of God into a new resurrection life. And the Bible teaches He was the first of many to come.
What are the implications of Easter? Your sins can be forgiven. You can have a relationship with God. Your life will not end. The implications of Easter are dramatic, optimal, and eternal. And we are all literally one faith filled prayer away from receiving that same resurrection power. Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
That’s you. That’s me. The promise is for EVERYONE who calls.
You don’t have to earn it—Jesus did that for you. You don’t have to purchase it—you can’t. But, you can receive it. So, what’s holding you back? If the implications of Easter are really available to you, why wouldn’t you take them for yourself? If you have doubts about a creator, if you have doubts about Jesus, I challenge you to investigate his claims.
See if he is who he claims to be. The book of John is a great place to start. I’d also encourage you to read or watch the movie based on Lee Strobel’s life: The Case for Christ.
As an avowed atheist and investigative journalist, Lee’s work to disprove the claims of Christ left him dumbfounded and amazed. His life was changed by what he investigated. And of course, I want to encourage you to plug into a faith family to help you know Jesus better and grow in your faith. The implications of Easter have changed my life and fill me with hope daily. They can change yours too. God bless you this Easter!