Easter is less than two weeks away. For some families, it’s a significant day with morning church services and often new clothes for the event. For many, it is the only day they attend church, aside from possibly Christmas. For others, it is just another Sunday.

I am always encouraging people to know what they believe and why they believe it. That leads me to the question, “Why do you do what you do on Easter?”

We attend things that are significant to us. We go to a sports event because we root for the team, or maybe because our kids are playing. We attend a birthday party because we love the person who is getting a year older. Do we attend Easter services because Jesus is a significant part of our lives, or is it more because of tradition, or because we believe it is the  right thing to do?

In some of the examples of the previous paragraph, we attended events because of who other people are. We go to the ball game because our kids are playing. We attended a birthday party because someone we care about was celebrating. Do we go to Easter services, or church in general, for that matter, because of who Jesus is?

Who is Jesus? How significant is He?

Jesus is eternal. He always has been, He will always be.

Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them,  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Revelation 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

In that last verse, Jesus not only proclaims that He is eternal but also states that He is the Almighty. Which brings us to our next point.

Jesus is God.

John 1:1-3, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Colossians 1:15-17, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

There are many Bible verses that tell us Jesus is God. Please notice that in the two passages above, they speak of Jesus being God, but they also mention that He is the creator. When you read Genesis chapter one, where it repeatedly says, “And God said…” That is Jesus talking. He is the one who spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29).

Jesus is the Saviour of the world.

Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of Davida Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.”

1 John 4:14, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

Salvation can only come through the blood sacrifice of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Isaiah 53:4-6, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities: and the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Romans 3:24-26, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebareance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Have you trusted the blood of Christ as the method God has chosen to wash your sins away? Is your faith in Him and His death on the cross? If you feel the need to take that step or have questions about what it means to trust in Jesus, I invite you to pause and pray, asking God to give you understanding and faith. If you would like someone to pray with you or talk further about what it means to follow Jesus, please reach out—I would be glad to support you on your journey of faith.

Easter, the resurrection is the proof that Jesus is eternal, that He is God, that He is the Saviour of the world, and that salvation only comes through His blood sacrifice.

Do you celebrate Easter because His resurrection is not only significant to your life, but also to your eternity? Do you celebrate Easter because of tradition, “We always go to church on Easter”? Is Easter just another Sunday?

Regardless of your answer, please examine the verses above, consider why you celebrate Easter, and decide if your reasons for celebrating Easter should change.

Preacher Johnson is Pastor of Countryside Baptist Church in Parke County Indiana. Website: www.preachers-point.com; Email: preacherspoint@gmail.com; Mail: 25 W 1200 N; Kingman IN 47952.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Timothy-Preacher-Johnson-101171088326638. All Scripture KJV.