Easter Message

Each year during Easter weekend, I read a portion of the book, The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. I read specifically Chapter 11 “The Medical Evidence” where pages 194 through 200 describe exactly how Jesus died on the cross by crucifixion. In his book, the author, a journalist who described himself as a skeptic, set out in a journey to prove the evidence for Jesus. In this chapter, he focuses on the physical evidence of the death of Jesus on the cross.

Although I never doubted that Jesus died on the cross and that He indeed rose again from the dead, many people don’t believe the “story.” If you have any kind of doubt about the death and resurrection of Jesus, I urge you to read this book. I read these pages of the book each year to remind me of the horrible death and torture, along with humiliation, that Jesus endured—for me!

Although I will never ever be able to repay Jesus for what He did for me, I am willing to share Him with the world. It is the least I can do to thank Him for the amazing gift of salvation. I have the “free ticket to eternity with Him in heaven”! And I want you to have it too. It’s actually very simple. I’ll leave you with three scriptures: Isaiah 53 describes what He went through on the cross, John 3:16-17 tells us about the gift of love from God to us, and Romans 10:8-13 tells us how easy it is to accept the free gift of salvation.

Isaiah 53 The Crucifixion

Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? 2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.

3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. 9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. 10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

John 3:16-17 The Gift of Love

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans 10: 8-13 Salvation is for Everyone

8 Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is the message we preach—is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, “The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Happy Easter! Jesus is risen and is real!