“For I
delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died
for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was
raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Jesus
Christ, God in flesh, came to earth to fulfill the promises that were written
in the Scriptures. From the very beginning, in Genesis 3, God promised that a
Savior would be born and He would crush the head of Satan. Throughout the Old
Testament, God’s people awaited the coming Messiah. Prophets told them that He would
come and fulfill God’s promises.
One
day in Bethlehem, a baby was born. But this was not an ordinary baby. This baby
was God and He was destined for the cross. Jesus lived a
perfect life and honored God. Then, “the hour” had come (Matthew 26:45) and the
cross awaited Him. Jesus Christ would be the final sacrifice for sin. Isaiah
53:5 says, “But He was wounded for our
transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement
that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” Our precious,
perfect Lord and Savior bore the sins of His people on the cross, to glorify
God, heal His people, and allow us to have a relationship with Him. It was a
dark and sad day when Christ died. He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The price for sin had been paid. He died on that old, rugged cross.
Three
days later, a miracle occurred. The ground shook and the stone guarding Jesus’
tomb rolled away. Jesus rose again. The grave could not hold Him and death had
no claim over His life. Hallelujah! Our Lord conquered sin and death. He is
alive. He lives! “‘Death is swallowed up
in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’”
(1 Corinthians 15:54b-55). Our Lord is a living God. “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on
the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who
believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). Praise Him! As we sing the resurrection hymns about
how “He Lives”, that “Christ Arose”, and that “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”,
let’s remember how incredible it is that our God lives!
As
Christ died and lives, He calls us to die to self and live to Christ. “If anyone would come after me, let Him deny
Himself and take up His cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Paul followed
Christ’s call and in Galatians 2:20, he writes (under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit), “I have been crucified with
Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I
now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself for me.” Let us live for Christ! He is so good and there is so much
purpose and life that comes through following in His footsteps. By grace, we
can live for Him!
Our
God is incredible, awesome, amazing, and glorious! May we always live in Him
and for His glory and remember the great things He has done! Blessings to you
all this Resurrection day!
Love
in Christ,
Christina
Soli Deo
Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory
