Without Easter our faith would mean nothing. What hope do we have with the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
This week my heart has been dwelling on the Cross. Many years the Easter holiday seems to come and go as just another excuse to eat Reese’s eggs and Jolly Rancher jellybeans and wear pretty dresses. Those things are nice. But they totally miss the point.
Last Sunday night at youth group as Kevin was announcing the church’s Easter events coming up, the teens kept excitedly referencing candy and the Easter bunny. Between my heart’s focus on the Cross and not-so-great-attitude I had that night, I got really upset at these antics really fast. I wasn’t mad at the teens specifically, but at the grotesque misunderstanding society has of Easter.
God moved in my heart to lead these students to the Cross, to their knees, to their Savior. With his prodding I gathered music for three songs whose words envelope the richness of the death and resurrection of Jesus. They needed to come face to face with the reality of the situation–to know the immense pain Jesus endured even after beseeching God to remove the cup from him. But he was obedient to the Father’s will, even to the point of death. His blood poured out for you, for me. Because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. And so He covered us in perfect redemption.
But without the third day, we have no hope, no future, no full life. Our God not only redeemed us through the crucifixion, but He didn’t let death defeat his Son.
Lead me to the cross, where your love poured out.Bring me to my knees, Lord, I lay me down.
Rid me of myself, I belong to you.Lord, lead me. Lead me to the cross.
[lead me to the cross by hillsong]
Listen here. Soak in the power of the Cross.
While it's a tough passage, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 is an incredible reminder of the power and importance of Christ's resurrection. Just reading it to respond to your post gave me a feeling of awe in the perfect plan that God exacted to secure the mercy and grace that he pours out on us.Just reading Paul's statement in verse 17 ("And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.") should be ample enough reason to be excited…not only on Easter, but every day of the year.