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Easter is the most significant holy-day in the Christian faith. The focus of Christ’s life was to die for our sins and then return to His Father. His death was so monumental that all of time is measured in BC and AD. BC means before Christ and AD means year of our Lord. I want to address the two most important areas that Easter represents: Christ’s death and resurrection.

What makes Easter so dreadful to those who have been in abusive rituals, is how the Enemy has connected what should be wonderful and sacred with things that are terrible and defiling.

Jesus died so we don’t have to die for our sins! Any act of ritual that has you “die” and be buried does nothing for your sins or anyone else’s! It does not accomplish anything good at all! Christ already paid for you in full; your work does nothing to add to that. Besides, our Messiah was the only perfect human to ever live, so He was the only one who could fulfil God’s demand for a perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:11-16 in The Message says, “Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.”

Jesus fulfilled all that God’s law demanded: “For Christ is the end of the Law […That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in… and relies on Him.” (Romans 10:4 Amplified)

pumpkinsSince Jesus fulfilled it all, what does God want from us? “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 NIV)

“Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous… but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).” (Matthew 9:13 Amplified)

Was there any mercy in the people who used force in the rituals? No! Were they following what God wanted? No.

What about the requirement of blood? “And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:21-22 RSV) But whose blood? Does animal or human blood do anything toward forgiveness?

[Christ] did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:12-14) For more understanding read all of Hebrews 7-10.

Anything other than the true Lord Jesus Christ’s blood cannot make us clean or save us.

If the blood of Jesus has been used against you in a negative way, you might picture it as snow cleansing you. Like fresh snow, His shed blood covers every defect and iniquity and makes you white and pure. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Is 1:18 NKJV)

So what good did human priests do toward making you spotless and right? None at all!

“But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. He’s there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them. So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God’s presence in heaven itself. Unlike the other high priests, he doesn’t have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He’s done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice. The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect.” (Hebrews 7:24-28 Message)

As Good Friday approaches, consider how useless any human rituals are in comparison to what Jesus has already done. He freely offered Himself as a sacrifice to die on the cross (see Gal 1:3-4). No one forced Him, He did it because of His love for you. This is the difference between the true Lord Jesus and any false or pretend ones you might have seen. The true Jesus trusted His Father God and willingly surrendered His life for you.

When they buried His body, He was no longer in it, He was already storming the gates of Hell and taking captives (Eph 4:8-10). By the time the two women came to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning, He was already raised in glory.

“Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up.” (Luke 24:4b-6a Message)

When you trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He gives you that same resurrection power; “His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion” (Eph 1:19-21a) Now that is worth rejoicing over!

Thank Christ for defeating the hosts of Hell and Death (Rev 1:18) as He was crucified, buried, and then rose from the grave. As He ascended through the realm of the Prince of the Power of the Air, and disarmed the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross. (Col 2:15)

Now claim all that resurrection power and authority in your life today and apply it to every area of your being: body, heart, mind, soul and spirit. The Enemy is under your feet because you are seated with Christ in heavenly places. (Eph 2:6)

The kingdom of darkness is trying to hide and distort these truths so you won’t walk in your freedom. Easter is a reminder of the incredible sacrifice your Messiah made for your salvation, and His gift of eternal life. It is an opportunity to meditate on the wonderful love God has for you in sending His Son.

Now “Praise be to the God…, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph 1:3) “Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need.” (Eph 1:7-8 Message)

This is the REAL story of Easter!