Easter: What does it mean to a Christian?

by Timothy A. Edward

The angel answered and said to the women, fear not for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen as He said. (Matthew 28:5-6)

To a Christian, the resurrection of Christ means that we are reconciled to God; we are set free and have an Intercessor, who intercedes on our behalf even at this very moment.

We are reconciled to God

When Jesus rose from the dead, he opened a way for believers to have a living relationship with God the Father through the Holy Spirit by faith in the completed works of Christ. According to the Scriptures, Jesus came into this world so that men and women can be made alive to God and to the things of God. A loving God sent His Son Jesus to die on a cruel cross on our behalf, so that we can be connect to God in a true and living way. This is the reason why the Scriptures describe Him as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

Whilst hanging on the cross Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the entire world. How could this happen? He could do this because He was sinless and He was the Son of God. When He took upon Himself the sins of the world, He was separated from God the Father. Thus, He cried out in agony, 'Why have you forsaken me?' He was forsaken and rejected of all including His Heavenly Father, so that we could be reconciled to God and be accepted as His children.

As Jesus Christ cried out 'It is finish' on Calvary, the following great spiritual exchanges were brought to a culmination on behalf of mankind. He was punished that we might be forgiven for our sins and the iniquities of sins. He was wounded that we might be healed and have a healthy life all throughout life. Jesus tasted death that we could live forever with Him, even after we die. As He hung on that cruel cross, He became a curse that we could inherit the blessings mentioned in the Bible whilst on earth and be a blessing to everyone we come in contact with in life. On that cross, he experience abject poverty; poverty at its cruellest form, so that when we believe in Him our needs could be provided for. He bore our shame, so that we no longer need to carry the sting of shame in our lives; but rather experience His unconditional forgiveness and acceptance. Only after Jesus accomplished all these and more, that He breathed His last and gave up His Spirit.

We are set free

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:7-10, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day, He broke the power of death, took the keys of death from Satan and led the captives free. He rose from the dead victorious. This is exactly what He meant when people asked Him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove that you are the Son of God?" He said, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' (John 2:9). The Scriptures tell us that God loved all of us so much that He gave His Son, His one and only Son, so that no one needs to be destroyed or die without having a daily living relationship with God.

We have an Intercessor

The Bible also tells us that at present, Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for all of us who believe in Him. He knows how weak and fragile we are because He was tempted at all points like us, yet without sin. So, we have a living, risen Saviour in the person of Jesus Christ who is interceding on our behalf in heaven, day in and day out, pleading our case before God's mercy seat. So, when we approach God through Jesus Christ, God our loving heavenly Father, looks at us through the eyes of Jesus' accomplished work on the Cross and opens His portal of heaven over us.

The only requirement is that we stop doubting and start believing on all what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us through His life, death and resurrection.

The Risen Saviour is eagerly waiting for us to open our lives to His warm and loving embrace. He wants us to live this life with His help, guidance and provision and does not expect us to live it on our own strength. He wants us to experience His love, forgiveness, blessing, direction, guidance, presence and power upon our lives now. He does not condemn us.

He only wants us to believe in Him and appropriate what He accomplished on Calvary as our inheritance in Christ and move forward with the gift of life. Because He is alive; we can live our life to the fullest here on earth now and for all eternity.

(The writer is a trainer, human resources practitioner and business consultant)