SHORT COMMUNICATION 352
The Three Easter Messages
By
Roger Behra
Every year as Easter
approaches during Holy Week the emphasis is focused on the messages of Easter. There
are three of them, and many people fail to realize that. They focus on one and
fail to realize that the three messages are interrelated. So, we must realize
that there are three messages and that they are equally very important: They
are Jesus’ crucifixion, our guaranteed salvation, and the fact that Jesus rose
from the dead.
We start our
realization with this: Why did God plan to sacrifice His only begotten Son? For
2000 years Christians have spread the message: "For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) should
not perish but have eternal life." This was the first message of Easter.
We continue our
realization with this: As soon as Jesus drew His last breath our salvation was
guaranteed. There was no salvation until Jesus was crucified and died on the
cross. This was the second message of Easter.
We end our
realization with this: Jesus for told His resurrection when scribes and
Pharisees demanded He produce a sign to prove what He was teaching. Jesus
alluded many time during His ministry on earth that he would be crucified but
that He would rise again on the third day. That happened exactly as He prophesied.
He appeared and proved Himself to the Apostles. He appeared to other people as
well. He was radiant, young
looking (about 30 years old), and very handsome. The Apostles did not recognize
Him. Jesus had to show them the wounds of His crucifixion as proof. This was
the third message of Easter.
We must forever be
thankful for God's plan that was finalized on that very first Easter Sunday,
and that Jesus willingly helped it to be completed. We must also be forever
thankful for every Easter Sunday that reminds us and gives us the proof, hope, and
satisfaction that our salvation is there and guaranteed as long as we believe
and earn it through good earthly behavior. A guaranteed salvation and the
knowledge that Jesus rose again from the dead is very, very comforting. So is
the reminder we receive every Easter Sunday.
R. B.
4-14-13
