I’m sure you have noticed bunnies and eggs everywhere recently. Indoor and outdoor decorations, candy, chocolate – all in the form of either bunnies or eggs! I would venture to bet we might also find a few bunnies and eggs sprinkled throughout our schools on bulletin boards and worksheets! I’m not complaining. I actually like bunnies and eggs, and you might discover some in my home if you were to visit. I love decorating for each holiday especially since I have young grandchildren. I must admit those chocolate eggs are a real hit!
This year I purposefully kept an eye out for anything that reflected the true meaning of Easter. The cross is an obvious expression of Easter, but to be honest, I didn’t see many displayed. I do realize the resurrection and the empty tomb are a bit difficult to represent in memorabilia. After all, the resurrection of Christ is ultimately reflected in our lives, not in a piece of candy! This past week I was watching an interview with a person who has made it big in the world’s eyes and who is a believer in Christ. The interview was conducted by leading ministers in the Christian community. As I listened for nearly an hour, I was struck by how the name Jesus wasn’t mentioned. There was talk about God and His activity in our lives, which is good, but the dialogue remained somewhat generic. Nothing said was anti-Biblical or wrong; there was just no mention of Jesus. Please understand that I am not passing judgment on anyone. However, as I thought about the program in the light of Easter, it burdened me. If it weren’t for Jesus and his journey to and sacrifice on the cross, our conversations about God would be irrelevant. This may sound like a bold statement, but it is how I felt as I listened to the interview. I decided to head to my Bible and see what God’s Word had to say about it. I’m sure there are entire courses in seminaries on this topic, but here are three undeniable truths I found.
1. Jesus and God are inseparable.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2
The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made God known. John 1:18
If there is any doubt, Jesus clarified His deity for the Jews (at great risk to Himself) in John 10:30 when He stated, “I and the Father are One.” He also told His disciples, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) I don’t pretend to grasp all this entails, but there is no denying the union between God and Jesus. To know Jesus is to know God. You can’t have one without the other.
2. Jesus is the only path to God.
”I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Notice Jesus did not say, “I am a way.” We do not read of Christ proclaiming, “I am one of many ways.” There is exclusivity in Jesus’ claim. There is no middle ground.
All of us know this verse: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) God’s plan of salvation involves His “one and only Son.” There is only one road to God. (Acts 4:11-12)
3. Jesus secures our eternity (now and in the future).
And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
When I hear the words eternal life, I often think of something that starts when I die. However, eternal life actually begins the moment a person exercises faith in Christ. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” According to Got Questions Ministries, the focus of eternal life is not just on our future but on our current standing in Christ (John 5:24, John 6:47). John puts it so simply.
”And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” John 17:3
Without Jesus, there is no security in our today or in our future for it is only through Him that we have a true and meaningful life.
While all of these truths are foundational to the Christian faith, there is one critical point we don’t want to miss. Easter isn’t about bunnies and eggs. Easter is really about love. God created us in His image to love us. If you are reading this blog right now, I hope you know how much you are loved. God created you and me for a relationship with Him, but as we know, our sinful state makes this impossible. Jesus is the answer—the only answer—to our broken relationship with God. (Romans 5:10) God sent Jesus to the cross out of love. Jesus went to the cross out of love. Easter is about love.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8
As we approach this week leading up to Easter, many of us will be painting eggs and eating chocolate bunnies! More than anything, however, I hope and pray that you know how much you are loved by God the Father. I also hope and pray that you know Jesus. We can’t celebrate Easter without Him!
HAPPY EASTER! NOTE: If you are reading this and are feeling a bit insecure about your relationship with Christ and whether or not you have truly asked him into your heart, please click on this link (https://tonyevans.org/know-jesus-christ/?hsLang=en). I don’t want you to miss out on Jesus this Easter!
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