Because of Jesus
There is much focus during Holy Week on the events that occurred during the Passover Week when Jesus walked on the earth as a man. Fittingly, many who do not believe will choose to attend church on Easter Sunday because, for lack of a better reason—It is the thing to do. However, some who do not believe will choose to NOT attend church on Easter Sunday because, for lack of a better reason—There is no God and because there is not, why bother attending church on Easter Sunday.
- Truly, there exists two categories of unbelievers who attend church on Easter. &
- Truly, there exists one category of believers who attend church on Easter.
To begin, let’s consider: The Believers who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
On the Friday of His crucifixion, Jesus hanged on the cross during the heat of the day, and the sun refused to give its light. As darkness covered the whole land, He cried out as bystanders listened close by the cross. Then when He was finished, at JUST THE APPROPRIATE & PROPER TIME, we see this detail.
“And Jesus uttered a loud cry,
(The Gospel According to Mark 15: 37-38 NAS)
and breathed His last.
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
- Symbolically, the veil was now made open—because of Jesus.
- Physically, the temple veil separating God’s presence from man was now made accessible—because of Jesus.
- Mentally, the God’s presence could be directly accessed when the veil was torn—because of Jesus.
- Spiritually, mankind only knows God—because of Jesus.
Earlier, before the crucifixion, when the Jews & the religious leaders had attempted to trap Him, Jesus spoke these words:
“No one has taken it away from Me,
(The Gospel According to John 10: 18 NAS)
but I lay it down on My own initiative.
I have authority to lay it down,
and I have authority to take it up again.
This commandment I received from My Father.”
Though He was God—
Jesus Christ lived as a man in utter dependance upon the Father.
Because Jesus was God in the flesh—
We are called to live in total dependance to Jesus’ will. This dependance can only be accomplished in a moment-by-moment submission through the Holy Spirit.
- In doing so and in living as such, Jesus is seen and we decrease.
- In living as such and in doing as we are commanded, Jesus is seen and the lost see Jesus.
In his letter to young Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote these words, reminding us today how it was ONLY BECAUSE OF JESUS THAT WE CAN BE SAVED!
“For there is one God,
(The 1st Letter of Paul to Timothy 2: 5-6 NAS)
and one mediator also between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave Himself as a ransom for all,
the testimony given at the proper time.”