Do you have a favorite holiday? I have a fondness for several for different reasons. In my childhood years, we were usually on our road trip to Yellowstone on the 4th of July, Independence Day, so my dad bought our fireworks out of state, where they were legal, with plenty of desert on the way where we could enjoy them safely. My brother and I loved it! Thanksgiving Day has grown on me over the years. The family recipe, Cranberry Velvet, has always been present, but the faces at the table have changed as my elders have passed on and my young people have grown up. Now, the family gatherings are hosted by one of my daughters and I am usually the oldest at the table. My favorite part is hearing what each person is thanking God for over the last year. It is a simple, not too commercialized holiday, with an emphasis on gratitude. For most of us, Christmas is probably a favorite for numerous reasons; family time, gift giving, special traditions, decorations, carols, and for some, worship of the Christ child, to name a few. But during the Christmas holidays how often do we consider that Christmas is a celebration Jesus’ birthday. All holidays come loaded with traditions, foods, and anticipation and all of those are really special and fun, but today I’d like to ponder the holiday of last weekend.
One week ago, we celebrated Easter, or as many Christians like to say, Resurrection Day. Just like the other holidays, there are plenty of distractions available to keep us from thinking about what actually is being celebrated. Solemn Good Friday and joyful Easter Sunday are special occasions because those events were essential points of redemptive history. According to the Bible, the events on those two days were designed by God rescue people out of their enslavement to sin and welcome them into eternal life with Him as His very own family.
Why is “Good Friday” good? Because on a particular Friday just over 2000 yrs ago, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on a cross. He did so to pay the just penalty for the sins of anyone who would turn from their sin, put their trust in Him and recognize Him as Lord of their life. In the Bible, Romans 3:10 & 23 says “There is none righteous, not even one…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the free Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Why a Resurrection three days later? Because Jesus said He would physically rise from the dead three days later, and He said more, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 He promised eternal life to those who follow Him. Because of sin in the world there is physical death, but Jesus made it possible for our souls to have eternal life once our bodies die and go back to the dust.
Jesus said these familiar words to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. I’m thankful for the good news here given here. May it be a blessing to you too!
The following is our wonderful Resurrection Day service at Grace if you care to watch. The sermon by Pastor Nathan Busenitz, about the importance of the resurrection as Living Proof, is at about 45:50. “…God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man (Jesus Christ, the God-Man) whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31.