What Does Easter Mean?
In the wake of tragedy, like the one recently experienced in Nashville, we are faced once again with the perennial problem of evil. Why is evil rampant in the world? Where is God? What redemption can come from the deaths of innocent children and good people? In a heart laden with these very questions the story of Easter resonates.
Easter is the most epic holiday (holy day) that we could celebrate because it centers on the most epic event in human history. What better time to remind ourselves of the truth that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and resurrected from the grave? When evil is staring us in the face is the best time to consider the truth of Easter and what it means for us.
In I Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul relates the full import of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection on our lives. Because Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, we have victory over “the dark side” in each of us. While none of us would like to think we could carry out the atrocities of a mass murderer, we all have a dark side. Expressing that dark side in a murderous way is unlikely for most of us, but we all express that dark side in our own ways. The apostle Paul’s testimony is that he was “not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (I Corinthians 15:9). As Saul, he had arrested Christians and even killed them. Saul was complicit in the death of the Spirit-filled Stephen. Yet Paul’s testimony continues in verse 10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Now standing before the Church as the apostle Paul, he gave all the glory to God. It is by God’s grace, afforded to us by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that any of us are not completely given over the darkness lurking in the corners of our hearts. If someone gives in to Christ, rather than giving in to his sin, he will be delivered from the depths to which sin could drag him.
So often the one we are trying hardest to escape is ourselves—our own selfishness, pride, fear, and doubt. This is what makes the gospel so liberating. I Corinthians 15:3-4 says, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which ye also received, how that Christ died for our sins, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures.” It was not enough for Jesus to die for our sins and be buried with them. A dead Savior would be no savior at all. Sin nailed Him to the cross. Sin sealed Him in the grave. But then Jesus overturned sin and its power when He rose again in defiance. The final act that completed the work of Christ was His resurrection from the dead, sealing His victory over sin. Easter means that all who believe on Jesus Christ are also victorious over sin.
Not only does Christ’s resurrection give us victory over sin, but it also gives us victory over the consequence of sin. Sin is like a deadly poison. Once ingested, the only natural outcome is death. The entire creation is groaning with the death-pangs of sin (Romans 8:22). The good news is that there is an antidote! I Corinthians 15:21-22 says, “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” When Jesus rose victorious over sin, He simultaneously conquered death. Easter means that all who believes on Jesus to save them from sin are simultaneously saved from the ultimate result of sin—death.
Another aspect of Christ’s conquering death for us is that redemption from even the worst situations is possible. Evil will not have the last word on our lives. Satan may be the prince of this world, but he is not the king of the universe. Jesus Christ is truly the King, the Sovereign of the world who will have the last word. He reigned in heaven before the incarnation, He is reigning in heaven now, and He will once again reign on earth. According to I Corinthians 15:25-26, “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Because Jesus resurrected, evil, sin, and death do not have the last word on human history. Jesus does.
Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection has created a new future for His believers. His resurrection is not merely symbolic. It was a literal, physical, bodily resurrection. As Christians, we await our own bodily resurrection, just like Jesus’ bodily resurrection. I Corinthians 15:53-57 victoriously concludes:
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy string? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The victory we have over sin, death, and evil is not a victory for which we had to fight. This victory is a gift, given to us by God, bought and paid for through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are victors not because we are stronger or bolder than the forces of evil at work in this world today, but because the One within us is infinitely strong and bold. I John 4:4 says, “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” While we may be no match for the forces of spiritual darkness at work in our world, neither are they any match for the Spirit within us. He has already won the victory. He has already written the end of the story. And He is working to redeem people along the way. Easter means that redemption is possible, and redemption is coming!
In a world racked with sin, death, and evil, Easter means everything! As C. S. Lewis put it in his book Miracles, “He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because he has done so.” We may not be able to make sense of every individual act of evil, but Christianity makes infinitely more sense of evil than any other worldview. Christianity offers hope because it is founded on the God-man, Jesus Christ, who entered this evil world and suffered with us and for us. Christianity offers hope because it is based on the reality of a resurrection—Christ’s resurrection which is the first fruits of our own resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20). Easter means that righteousness triumphs over sin. Easter means that life claims victory over death. Easter means that redemption has the final word over evil. To the battered heart, Easter is the balm that not only eases the pain but truly heals, restores, and revitalizes. Even amid grieving, may we preach the Easter message to ourselves and those around us.