For the vast majority of people Easter is about having a break from work, spending time with loved ones or going away on holidays to have a good time. For children it is about getting Easter eggs and having fun, and for adults it is primarily about entertainment. For the commercial world it is about increasing sales. Some people even find time to go to Church and Christian conferences.

1. The Significance of Easter

Let us return to the real issue. Has the full significance of Easter penetrated into our minds? Do we simply view it as a historical event, or is it real and vital to us in our daily experience. In other words, what does Easter mean to us? Does it mean merely Easter eggs, having a break from work, or is there a deeper meaning and significance to the whole event. The fact of the matter is that many have the benefits of having time off from work because of the death of Christ, and are not even grateful. Do you realize that if Christ had not suffered on the cross, you would not have time off from work? Again, the same is true of Christmas. Many people take it for granted and see time off from work as their entitlement, and do not even give a thought or thanks to Christ for His death on the Cross, and His resurrection.

If people would stop to think and acknowledge the benefits they get from Christ, it would bring home the reality of the influence of Christ in the world and the direct benefits to them. The fact is that no other religious or political figure in history has had the impact that Christ has had, and indeed is still having. The whole of our western calendar is structured around Christ. History is His-Story. We have B.C. and A.D.

Now if Christ never existed, then how is it He has had such an impact and influence? It never ceases to amaze me of the foolishness of some of those atheists, infidels and heretics who seek to deny the existence of Christ, and His Perfect Manhood, Perfect Godhood, and His Perfect Death and Perfect Resurrection. The Scripture says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good" (Psalm 14:1). Also, I say that the fool has said in his heart that Christ does not exist, or that he did not die or rise again from the dead. I was once such a fool, corrupt, born in sin, practicing sin, living in the blindness and hardness of my heart, but God had mercy on me, opening my eyes to His amazing grace towards lost sinners, which was gloriously displayed in His love on the Cross, whereupon His dear Son hung in ignominy and shame for wretched, lost, ignorant, miserable, hell-deserving blind and naked sinners. Thank God that He is in the business of saving sinners today. He is ever-merciful and kind to all those who love Him and obey His commandments.

2. Christ is our Passover for us

For the Jew Easter is about the Passover, for the Christian we believe that Easter is fulfilled in Christ. The Scriptures say, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7)." John the Baptist says, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29)." There are many parallels between the Jewish Passover and Christ our Passover. In fact, we believe that the Scriptures teach that the Jewish Passover foreshadows the Passover of Christ.

Disobedience brings Judgment

In Exodus 12 we have the plague of death on all the first born of Egypt, as a result of Pharaoh's hardness of heart in refusing to let the children of Israel do sacrifice to the LORD God. The children of Israel were commanded by God to keep the Passover. This entailed their obedience in every detail. Disobedience would have resulted in not only the firstborn of man and beasts of all the Egyptians dying, but of the Israelites as well. The Israelites heeded God's warning, we do well to look to the means which God has provided in Christ.

The Passover was the LORD'S Passover. It was not the children of Israel's invention. Christ is the Passover. We benefit from His death, we do not merit through our works or efforts anything that Christ has done at the Cross. It is a gift and it is free to all those who will repent and believe the Gospel. Faith and repentance are gifts from God.

The Symbolism of the Passover

The Passover was the beginning of months, this symbolizes regeneration. The children of Israel were to take a LAMB and slay it, this means that Christ is our LAMB who was slain from the foundation of the world. The LAMB was to be without blemish, this represents to us the sinless impeccable nature of Christ in His Manhood. The LAMB'S blood was to be shed, this was pointing to the precious blood of Christ being shed for our sins to placate the wrath of God. The children of Israel had to take of the blood and strike the two door posts and the upper post of their houses. They had to take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that was in the basin and apply it. Sinners too have to apply the blood, otherwise there will be no forgiveness for us, only a fearful and awful judgment, after which, sinners will be cast into the fire that is never extinguished to infinitely suffer.

Judgment - A Great Cry in Egypt

There was a great cry in Egypt, just think of all the tears that will be shed in Hell, the oceans of tears. Just think of the pain in Hell. There will be no hospitals or Health Service to alleviate the suffering. In this life sinners complain about the pain, but that is only a foretaste of what is going to happen in Hell. Though there will be doctors, dentists and morticians in Hell, as there will be in Heaven, yet they will be "off duty". They will not be able to help, for they too will be suffering the anguish and torment of Hell. The doctrine of Hell is played down in the pulpit today. God is angry with sinners. Liberal and modernist preachers are liars. They hide the truth from sinners of the awful judgment of God. They only focus on the love of God and neglect the wrath of God. Now it is right to preach the weightier matters of the law such as the mercy, love and judgment of God, but these must be kept in balance. To emphasize the love of God above His wrath is not to reflect the true character of God. One attribute which is the fulcrum of all the attributes is the holiness of God. God's love is a Holy love, God's wrath is a Holy wrath. This needs to be preached to this wicked and perverse generation. If you tell a sinner that God loves him, it is more likely that he will continue in his sin rather than repent. On the other hand, if you tell the sinner that he is under God's curse, God's condemnation and God's wrath, he is more likely to "awake" to his sinfulness, and repent of his rebellion against God.

For example, it is no good for a doctor to tell the patient that everything is well with their health, and that there are no medical problems, when the truth is the patient has terminal cancer and is going to die in six months time. This approach is cruel, unkind and dishonest. True love does not lie. True love and care for the patient is to lovingly break THE BAD NEWS. This will help the patient to adjust and make preparation for death. So it is with God and the sinner. God tells us plainly so that we can make preparations for death and the judgment. We are sinners alienated, cut off and perishing and we need to SEEK God with all our hearts.

God shows His true love by providing a way of escape through the Cross from the plaque of sin. This is only through His dear Son, whom God gave in love on the Cross. Jesus took the sinner's judgment, the curse of the Law, and the just punishment. Christ died as a substitute for sinners. He died in the room and stead of sinners. The Apostle Paul's integrating theme and motivating force for his ministry was the knowledge that Christ loved him. He wrote," the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me. This is good news, which I am thankful for too.

The ten plaques which fell on the Egyptians point to the future Judgment of God on sinners. They also point to what is going to happen to sinners in Hell. The LORD showed this by the way He dealt with Pharaoh and the Egyptians. If He punished the Egyptians then, will He not do the same with persistent and hardened sinners at the Judgment? There is no doubt according to the Scriptures that God judges sin. He must do so because He is the Just and Holy God.

Old Testament Sacrifices are Done Away in Christ

It is so wonderful to realize that it is not now necessary for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. It never did, for if it did, why did the Jewish High Priest have to go into the Temple once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifices for his own sins and the sins of the people? Clearly the Holy Spirit was indicating that the way of being right with God was not yet accomplished. Jesus has opened the way into the Holy of Holiest forever by offering His own blood. Unlike the Old Testament Priest, He had no sin and He did no sin, so at Calvary He was offering up Himself for sinners. There is No Priest, but Christ our High Priest; there is No Sacrifice, but Christ Our Sacrifice; there is No Cross, but the Cross of Christ that can take away sin. My sin put Christ on the Cross.

Now it is not necessary for any priest to offer any sacrifice, for Christ is our Great High Priest who has offered Himself once for all. Christ is our Great High Priest in Glory performing the role of an intercessory ministry. The earthly priestly ministry of the Old Covenant has been replaced with Christ's Heavenly priestly ministry for believers. We gain an insight into this in John 17 where we see Christ interceding for Himself, vs. 1-5, for His disciples, vs. 6-19, and for all those who would believe on Him, vs. 20-26. The fact is that Christ fulfills all the Old Covenant, for He is our Prophet, Priest and King. We have a wonderful Savior. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. He is the incomparable Christ. Glory be to His Name.

3. The Basis of the Sinner's Relationship with God

Vital to our spirituality and relationship with God is the death and resurrection of Christ. It is the death of all deaths. It is the resurrection of all resurrections. It is through the reconciliation of the cross that we have peace with God. It is through the salvation of the cross that we have access to God. It is through the redemption of the Cross that we have forgiveness from God. It is through the cross that we have new life. It is through the cross that guilty sinners are justified and acquitted by a holy and righteous God. These facts are good news, and central to the Gospel.

Life does change around Easter. Spring descends upon us. The clocks spring forward. Life is in the air. There is a freshness in the mornings. Growth is everywhere. There is expectation and hope around us. The trees are budding and blossoming, and the flowers are blooming. Gardens are being transformed. Change is all around us. It is wise to observe these things. Creation is going through a whole change. Lambs are being born. There is new birth. There is regeneration going on. God is saying through the changes in Creation that coincides with the Cross that things are changing. Lives are being transformed by God's Holy Spirit. God is giving spiritual life through the Cross. Creation is an object lesson of what has resulted in the spiritual realm. Resurrection is occurring everywhere in Creation, speaking of the glorious resurrection of Christ. Isaiah says, "Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither is weary (Isaiah 40:28)." God is active in Creation and Calvary.

At Calvary, "For He (God) hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians5:21)."

In Creation, God caused life and sustains life by His power and control. Christ was delivered (Cross) for our offenses, and was raised again (resurrection) for our justification (see Romans 4: 25).

If you desire freedom from guilt and acceptance with God this is only found permanently through Christ. If you want peace with God this is only through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way, or there is no other person by whom you may have access into Heaven (see John 14:6 and Acts 4:12). If you have not been declared righteous by God, then you will most certainly be excluded from Heaven. The gift of the righteousness of God is exclusively through Christ.

4. Current Affairs in Heaven and Earth

There are a number of factors here to consider:

Today's Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions among people today who attend church. They have forgotten, or in some cases not known, that God views them as sinners by nature and by choice. Water baptism cannot remove that sin, nor can confirmation or any other church ritual, it must be by the blood of Christ. The Lord says, "When I see the blood I will pass over you"( Exodus 12:23). God will PASS OVER sinners' sin in Christ, but only if they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and repent.

No Condemnation

There is no condemnation for the true child of God. They have been forgiven, they have been adopted into God's family. They are an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. What a future!!! Unsurpassed in its beauty and grandeur, incomparable in its majesty and glory. The prospect of living with Christ and in worship of God for eternity is exciting. We who are believers are eternally indebted to Christ and His work on Calvary. His death is our passport to Heaven, His resurrection is our hope of resurrection. What joys and beauty can the world offer the child of God to compare with the glory and majesty of God. In His presence is fullness of joy. O for a thousand tongues to sing my Great Redeemer's praise. We shall reign triumphant with Christ forever. Eye had not seen or ear heard what God had prepared for them that love Him.

The State of Society Today

Today we see the conflict, the confusion, the distrust and the betrayal in society and in the nations. The world does not have hope, but sorrow. Even in the midst of happiness in this world there is sorrow and gloom. People look for answers, and what do they find, but empty promises and greed. There is a void in people's lives. Many of the young people of today are caught up in immorality, drugs, alcohol to find love and meaning in life. Crime, murder, stealing, child abuse, homosexuality and all manner of perversions are increasing, despite what the statisticians say. Life has lost meaning for many people. People are joining the cults and suicide is increasing. The occult and new age philosophy is infiltrating our colleges and academic institutions.

The State of the Visible Church Today

The visible Church in many areas is in a state of apostasy. There are few clear sounding voices in the nations. There are few moral and spiritual leaders encouraging people to read their Bible and return to God. The world looks at the Church in some areas, and they see it for what it is devoid of spiritual leadership and moral direction. Compromise is the order of the day. Many say, "Let us love one another and forget about doctrine." Doctrine divides, love unites. What a lie of Satan. If one examines the New Testament one will find that doctrine is supreme in the Apostles' minds.

5. Look to the CROSS, and the Coming King

I pray that people would look to Calvary. If only people would realize that true happiness and joy is only to be found in Christ, His work on the Cross and His glorious resurrection. Life does change around Easter for those who will look to Christ and live. Look ye lame, ye blind, ye poor, ye deaf, ye dead, ye dumb and live. Look to the Holy One who gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked out the hair, and who hid not His face from their reviling and spitting. There is life for a look at the Crucified One. The Lord will lead you in paths that you have not known. He will make your darkness light, and the crooked things straight. Here is the invitation to sinners from the LORD, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I AM God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22).

Christ has come -- "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). He left Heaven's glory for the Cross of Calvary. What love!! Great is the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh. What a great God, whom we must adore!

Christ is coming again. We live in an exciting hour in one respect. The hope of the believer is to look for the coming of the reigning King. We do not look for judgment but for the glory of God to be revealed in us. Christ in us is the Hope of Glory. The Holy Spirit says, "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Be ready for Christ's Coming. Repent and believe the Gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ is going to take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ was crucified in humiliation, but He is going to be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels and glorified in all those who believe, in triumph, at His Coming. Every time we remember the Passover LAMB at the Breaking of Bread, we do so till He come.

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20). At the Cross, at the Cross, I first saw the Light, it was there by faith that I received my sight and the burden of my heart rolled away.

These are just a few of my thoughts for you this Easter. May God have mercy on you for His Glory.