April

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When we think of Easter what do we think of? 

Some would say chocolate eggs and the easter bunny.

Some would perhaps say time spent away with the family and some would say a celebration of new life.

 

Well as Christians, Easter is not about eggs or a bunnies, it's about new life.

 

When we read the four gospels within the Bible we read about the Lord Jesus’ disciples, the miracles He performed and the interactions He had with the ruling elite of the day. We also read about 3 siblings who loved Him. This family was made up of sisters Mary and Martha and one brother, Lazarus. The family believed in the Lord Jesus and that he was the Son of God. So, when their brother fell sick, they sent for Jesus to come and heal him. When we look at the timeline of events, when Jesus was found and the message delivered, Lazarus had most likely already died. The Lord Jesus after finishing His work in the area made the trip to go and see the family. When He arrived the people were mourning the loss of Lazarus who had died 4 days previously. 

 

Just like our cemeteries, the people of ancient times had places to bury their dead. 

Some were buried in the ground and some were buried in caves either natural or hewn out by hand. 

Some burial places were for individuals and some for families.

 

When we read this account in the gospel of John, it would appear from history that the tomb Lazarus was buried in was communal in nature and that Lazarus was placed within. Jesus seeing the mourning and unbelief in the people asked for the stone from the cave to be removed.

 

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Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 11:41,42

 

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And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

John 11:43, 44

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The people were amazed at the sight in front of them. He had been raised from the dead.

Jesus called the name of the man who believed in Him; and as such it was only him that was raised from the dead.

 

Coming up to Easter we remember the betrayal, crucifixion and burial of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus after dying was laid to rest in a tomb and a stone was placed over the entrance entombing Him.

On the third day, the first day of the week for the Jews, the stone was rolled away by the angel of the Lord and the tomb was found empty. The stone was not rolled away so people could take the body, but so people could see that there was no body inside.

The Lord Jesus had risen from the dead and this is what Christians remember on Easter Sunday.

 

You see that the Lord Jesus died so that mankind may have a scapegoat for our sin.

He died so that we may have a way to live and find salvation from the judgment to come. 

The Bible says although he died for mankind and conquered the judgment for sin in rising from the dead; we won’t be saved unless we believe He is the only Son of God, and that He died for us and arose again.

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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:9

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At Easter as Christians, we remember the new life that the Lord Jesus has given us through His sacrifice for sin and His conquering of it in rising from the dead. By believing in Him, Christians have eternal life through Him. 

 

Out of everyone buried it was only Lazarus, the man that believed in the Lord, that the Lord called out. 

Only by believing and putting your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ will you be saved.

Only then will you be able to hear His call in the coming day and join Him.

A.T

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