The Resurrection Day - Easter Article

As we approach one of the most celebrated holidays of the year, it is important that we have the right meaning of this holiday. Easter is not mentioned in Scripture except in Acts t2:4, of which the original Greek readspascha, "Passover." The Christians carried over the Hebrew Passover into their celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, whom they regarded as the true Paschal Lamb and firstfruits of the dead.

As Christians we prefer to call this holiday, "Resurrection Day." However, most of the world calls it Easter. The pagan spirit has included eggs called Easter eggs and rabbits called Easter rabbits. We know that the spirit of the resurrected Lord has nothing to do with eggs and rabbits. The resurrection was for the purpose of Jesus and His church.

Therefore, the theme of this March 3 1, 2002, Sunday school promotion is "For Him and Them." No, this has nothing to do with eggs and rabbits but everything to do with Christ and His church.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27).

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Colossians 1:16-17).

'And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, 1 say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" (Colossians 1:19-20).

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" (Colossians 1:21-22).

The death, burial, and resurrection is the theme of this season. We celebrate with Him in His victory, and He celebrates with us in our victory.

I want to focus for a moment on this most blessed day, to that split second when our life on this earth is finished and we are launched into eternity. Do you, this very day, have the assurance that when your life is complete your eternity is going to be spent in heaven?

If the answer to that question is anything but a resounding YES, then let me just share this simple truth with you. Our God, our Creator, so loved this world, so loved His creation, that He sent His Son, His only Son to be the Savior for our world. Jesus had one mission in this life: it was not to be a great teacher, though He was a great teacher; it was not to be a great prophet, though He was a great prophet; it was not to be a great miracle worker, though He did work many great miracles; Jesus came to this world with only one mission...

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

-written by Ronald Nation in the "Pentecostal Herald" February 2002 issue More Resource in https://www.upci.org/editorial/