Easter Sunday 4th April 2010 – Hallelujah, Christ is risen – Celebrating the risen Lord!

This article was originally written for my weekly Facebook Sunday Notes feature on Easter Sunday, 4th April 2010
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Contrary to popular belief, Easter, not Christmas, is the most important celebration for Christians. This is because our faith is centred around the events of Easter – that Jesus died on that first Good Friday, then rose again on that first Easter Sunday.

All the hope, joy and expectation of Christian life and belief flow from those two events – that firstly Jesus died in our place so that we would not have to die for our own sins, and secondly that Jesus rose from the dead so that we have a hope of also rising from physical death when our life here on earth is over.

I would like to invite you to join in the celebration by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus for yourself so you do not have to suffer for your own sins eternally in Hell, as the Bible teaches, but so you would also have the hope of beating death by accepting the life from Jesus which carries on after death.

Gospel of John chapter 3 verse 16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

verse 17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

verse 18
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God

Gospel of John chapter 11 verse 25
Jesus said to her “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

verse 26
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Matthew 28 – He is risen!
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”. So they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me”.