Easter

The story of Easter is a couple thousand years old. I’m always a bit surprised at how little some people know about what really happened during Jesus’ earthly ministry, especially if they live in the west (and the US in particular). Mention Easter and thoughts of fuzzy bunnies and brightly colored eggs pop right into our minds, don’t they? Surely there must be more to Easter than gorging on chocolate and marshmallow chicks? Why did Jesus come to this planet? Why did He come and have to die? These are important – and life altering – questions, and they deserve answers!

Ex 21:22-25
“If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.  But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

“Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth…” This is a critical concept we need to understand. God made this principle a part of the Mosaic Covenant (The Law) in order to show us how He views personal responsibility. If a man purposefully (because of his errant actions) caused the loss of someone’s hand, foot or eye, he owed his own hand, foot or eye as payment for his offence. He was acting wrongly, and because of his wrong actions he was to be held responsible for the damage done. If someone lost their life because of those actions, then his life was forfeit. This principle is mention a few times throughout the Old Testament, because God wants us to understand the seriousness of this situation.

Each one of us has, because of Adam’s rebellion and his passing down the nature of sin to each of us, caused willful harm to others. We have not harmed God Himself, but we have harmed others due to our rebellion. The harm done in the quote above was between people, and not as an offense to God directly. So it is with each of us – individually. Our continual rejection of Christ damages everyone, starting with ourselves and then extending toward the others around us. Whether we know it or not, or want to believe it or not, our continued rejection of Christ’s Lordship causes others to stumble!

“How can I be held responsible for someone else? What harm have I done? I’m a good person; I don’t steal, lie, cheat or physically harm anyone!” We hear things like this all the time, right? On the surface it sounds good, until we look at the reality of what is really happening. This inspection is to be done according to God’s viewpoint, since we will be answerable to Him alone. Do any of us live in a bubble? Are any of us alone on the Earth, never interacting with another human being? Certainly not, because we are surrounded by people and mingle with them on a near-daily basis. And what do we do when we mingle? We influence each other.

When you interact with someone you are exerting a certain amount of spiritual sway in that person’s life, whether for good or bad. Have you ever gotten mad at someone for cutting you off in traffic, and said or done something less-than-best? That is influencing to others. Have you dismissed the things of God simply because you weren’t interested in them, and let others know how you feel? You are exerting influence. Have you cut into a line somewhere, regardless of how long the line was – or how long people have been patiently waiting their turn? You are exerting sway on those people.

Instances like these cause others to focus on negative things instead of focusing on God. Most importantly, if you are ‘trying to do the right thing’ without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, it is simply an act of will. Acts of human will are sometimes the most destructive forms of influence. They give the impression of success without supplying real success with God. What could we possibly do that would impress God? What could we possible give to Him that He has not already given to us in the first place? The very One Who makes us knows us inside and out. When nobody else knows what’s in our heart, He does. That is why He states;

Isa 64:6
But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The principle we looked at above proves that God deals with each one of us INDIVIDUALLY, not collectively. He judges each and every one of us righteously and accordingly, based on what we know of His Word (and subsequently put into practice). So then, because of the standard He outlined in the Law, we are responsible for the lives we have harmed by failing to follow Him. If we have harmed someone’s life, then our own life is forfeit, just as in the example given above. We are guilty before God, with no hope of justifying our actions. What are we to do, since we are guilty before God?

The principle we’re looking at (thanks to God) works both ways! If a life is owed then a life must be forfeit. If a life is taken as payment of the obligation then the justice and judgement of God is satisfied, and we are freed from our guilt. Because of this principle Jesus can stand in our place when we are judged by the Father. What’s the catch? We need to believe (to the point of obedience to God’s Word), and become a disciple of Jesus. By doing so we put our faith in what He has already accomplished; something we could never possibly hope to accomplish on our own! He ‘exchanges’ His life for ours. The continuing Good News is that it doesn’t just stop there.

The cross was only part of the story, and (unfortunately) it’s also where so many people stop when considering all Jesus has done for us. The cross was not the end, but the BEGINNING for those who place their trust in Him. Once we receive the New Birth (by placing our faith in what Christ has done for us), we receive the same nature Christ has. We receive the very nature of God Himself, and with it all the fellowship and power resident within the Godhead – Just as Jesus has. We now have His life. That is the most powerful statement that can ever be made about the human condition. We are not on our own. We are not powerless against the onslaught of sin, willful desires and rebellion against the One Who purchased us! By exchanging His life for ours, He not only paid the price for our offenses, He willingly shares His fellowship with our new Father. We now have the right, honor, privilege and responsibility to live His life once we make Him the Lord of our life. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge what He did, we need to follow Him. By following Him, we can now start to become the positive influence God wants His children to be, and is why Jesus says;

Matt 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

This is the true meaning of Easter!