One of the most incredible aspects of Practical Jesus is being entrusted with personal stories. It is such an honor to share intimate miracles in people’s lives! Today’s story is hands down the most important story we will ever share. Even if you know the ending, please read this thru to be reminded of why we are celebrating today!
Over 2000 years ago, this guy named Jesus walked the earth. Miracles followed Jesus like a warm shadow. From his miraculous conception of being born to a virgin to bringing sight to the blind; from feeding 5000 with a few fish sticks and bread to calming a storm with his voice; Jesus and miracles coincide like peanut butter and jelly. Yet, the greatest miracle of Christ happened thru his death. Here’s the story.
Jesus was not an ordinary man. He was the Son of God who left heaven and was sent to earth to live among us. While Jesus walked the same earth we do, he never sinned! Never ever! He was tempted, just like we are – but He never sinned. He was absolutely perfect.
Even though Jesus was perfect, not everyone liked him. (I know, this makes people pleasers cringe.) Some Jewish religious leaders - essentially a crew of Karens - didn’t want people worshiping and praising Jesus. So, they sought out to kill him.
Meanwhile, everyone was celebrating Passover. This was a celebration to remember how God rescued the Israelites out of Egypt (think of Moses and the splitting of the Red Sea). But this time, Christ wanted us to be reminded how he was about to rescue us from sin.
Jesus was celebrating Passover with his twelve disciples (his BFFs). After that special last supper, Jesus began washing his disciples’ feet. This was symbolic to show them the importance of serving others and to show them that we as people need to get clean, but we can’t do it on our own. Check out what the Bible says.
Matthew 26:26-28 (NIV)
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
After supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane (seen in the picture below) to pray. While he was there, the religious leaders who didn’t like Jesus had him arrested. One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot was there to lead them. Ouch. Jesus was betrayed by one of the closest people to him.
Matthew 27:2 (NIV), So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
Jesus appeared before Pilate during the annual time a prisoner is usually released. But after Pilate gave the crowd the option of releasing perfect Jesus or a notorious prisoner named Barabbas, they cheered for Jesus to be crucified. Jesus was beaten and led out to be killed.
Luke 23:32-33 (NIV) Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
This is a picture of Golgotha from my trip to Jerusalem in 2015. It's where Jesus was crucified. The crucifixion is what we remember on Good Friday. Stay tuned for why such a sad day is called "good."
Matthew 27:45-54 (NIV) says, "From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Can you even imagine?! At the exact moment Jesus died, there was darkness (literally the sky turned black), there was an earthquake, and the thick curtain in the temple across town was torn in two! The curtain is what separated men from the holiest place in the temple. It represented the separation from God and man.
Matthew 57-60 (NIV) says, "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away."
The next day was Sabbath, which meant required rest for Jews. The Roman guards stood at the tomb to protect where Jesus was laid. Three days after Jesus was crucified and sabbath concluded, the greatest miracle of all time happened.
Matthew 28:2-10 (NIV), "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here;
he has risen,
just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Jesus rose from the dead! He lives! Death and the grave could not defeat Christ. He lives and reigns today!! This is why we celebrate Easter. Christ Jesus lives, and he saves. This is the greatest miracle of all time.
But why is Jesus’ death and resurrection so important and worth celebrating? Didn't Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? What about Jairus' daughter? Why don't we celebrate them like Jesus? Answer... it's because who Jesus was and who we are.
Romans 3:23 (NIV) says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
It doesn’t matter whether you are Mother Theresa, Ted Bundy, or the average Jane Doe, we ALL fall short of perfection.
Romans 6:23 (NIV) says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Uh oh. The penalty of sin is death. We deserve to die and spend eternity in Hell for our sin.
Romans 5:8 (NIV) says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus died to pay our penalty! He paid the price of our sin when he died on the cross. Our entrance to heaven requires perfection. Jesus was perfect, so he paid our price.
John 3:16 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.
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) says, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Our job is to believe and declare Jesus is Lord. Say it with me! "Lord, I'm a sinner. I need your forgiveness. I believe God sent Jesus to die on a cross to pay the debt for my sins. God, please forgive me and make me clean. I want to follow you."
Romans 10:13 (NIV) says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
EVERYONE. That’s me. That’s you. That’s your enemy and your BFF too. God doesn’t have favorites. He doesn’t have a first string or last pick. You didn’t miss your opportunity yet. You can call on the name of the Lord today. We don't need to "get our act together" to see Jesus. He ministered to prostitutes, tax collectors, and children 2000 years ago and he wants us to come to Him just as we are today.
Today, I’m celebrating because Jesus paid my debt. I don’t deserve to spend eternity in heaven, BUT I know God made a way for me. He sent Jesus to die on the cross. I made the decision to follow Him and I don’t have to worry about whatever happens to me on this side of heaven because I know where I'm spending eternity. I hope you make the same decision to trust in Jesus this Easter.
Jesus came to earth. He died. He rose again. For us. WHAT. A. STORY.
There is a hymn by Bill Gaither, I grew up singing at church.
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living, just because He lives.”
Happy Easter, friends!
Sierra
PS – the top picture is of me standing outside the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem where Jesus was buried and rose again!! Jesus wasn’t in there!!! He lives!!
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