The U in Easter

Trust me, I realize that I need to be extra careful with this one: Easter is a time that an unequivocal and singularly intense spotlight is focused on the death, burial and resurrection of The LORD Jesus Christ. But have you ever thought….How does Jesus see Easter?
Previously, I’ve recounted a radio program I’d heard while driving through the dark, back roads in Northern Florida where a preacher talked about the many different viewpoints we commonly upstage when sharing the Christmas story; Mary, Joseph, the shepherds who watched their flocks by night and so forth. However, when he focused on how Jesus saw Christmas, teaching from Hebrews 10, I was genuinely, yet pleasantly astonished.

The Christmas story, as it relates to the aforementioned characters, revolves around the struggles of uncommon and in some cases irrational events as they're all are thrust into a position to witness, and play an active part in a miracle of God. However, in Hebrews, Jesus’ focus was not on "How can this be?" but steadfastly on fulfilling the will of His Father. Along with the entirety of what Jesus’ life was, I see that as a consistent theme throughout His life which makes it easily relatable to what would also be His death, burial and resurrection. The question is often asked; “Who killed Jesus?” and depending on the context of the question, there could be a more than a few different answers:

I killed Him - in recognition of the fact that Jesus was not only innocent, but absolutely sinless, and His substitutionary death was to placate the wrath duly deserved by my sinfulness.

Jews killed Him – the Sanhedrin brought Jesus up on charges of blasphemy and railroaded Him into the hands of Pilate, demanding crucifixion.

The Romans killed Him – their hands were the hands that scourged Jesus and nailed His body to the Cross.

Nobody killed Jesus – meaning, no one “took” Jesus’ life. Jesus laid down His own life and picked it up again just like He said He would.

God killed Jesus – It had been ordained of old that this Jesus, the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world, would die for the sake of fulfilling God’s purposes of reconciliation with fallen humanity.

All of these are correct in some ways, but standing alone, don’t accurately portray the full truth of the matter and only this last option points to the $64,000.00 question of “Why?” And it’s this understanding that Scripture resonates with the fulfillment of the Father’s Will.


Here’s The Word:

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins

Hebrews 10: 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

In the mind of God, it was foreordained that a people be set apart to dwell with Him forever. This people needed to be made holy in order to commune with The Godhead because HE is Holy. Jesus is that Propitiation; the satisfying substitute by which we of the Household of Faith, are afforded access into the presence of a Holy God. So as you see, this is not a self-esteem message. The Why of Easter is that Christ submitted to the will of the Father, and we should aspire to that mind and follow hard after fulfilling the Will of The Father. Easter is about Christ, but hopefully you don’t miss seeing the U in Easter.


In Him,
Cros