Resurrection Sunday
A Look back on the Passover Feast
God gave the Israelites the order and the instructions on how to celebrate Passover in Exodus 12
The Passover Meal + the Festival of the Unleavened Bread
Roasted meat of a lamb – signifying Jesus
Bitter herbs—signifies the suffering the people endured under slavery in Egypt
Unleavened bread –signifying the people of Israel (bread in the purest, cleanest form)
During Jesus’ last Passover Feast, there is no mention of roasted lamb or bitter herbs. Jesus focuses on the unleavened bread and the wine.
There is no need for the lamb to be mentioned—Jesus is the lamb
There is no need for the bitter herbs—Jesus is going to take away all the spiritual suffering
The bread represented Jesus’ body that would be sacrificed
The wine represented Jesus’ blood that would be spilled to fufill the law, since sin had brought death upon us
Verse of focus
Hebrews 9:28—so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Origin of Secular Easter
The secular Easter should not be mixed with Passover or with Resurrection Day.
The origins can be traced back to the Saxons in the 3 century, to the goddess Eostre who was considered the goddess of Spring and fertility
Rabbits were used to symbolize this goddess as they are very fertile creatures and have many offspring
Because Passover, Jesus’ resurrection and this festival were celebrated around the same time, the celebrations merged into Easter
Due to the pagan origins it is best to call this day Resurrection Day, rather than Easter
Over the years, Easter has transformed and become commercialized
Message Points
The importance of the Resurrection for Jesus
Jesus physically raised from the grave, never to die again. Jesus’ resurrection allowed His newly resurrected/ purified body to do extraordinary things like vanish or enter locked rooms. Jesus’ resurrection satisfied all that His Father had commanded Him Act 2:22-24. If Jesus had not resurrected, He would not have been able to fulfill His duty to His Father or to us. In order for us to inherit a transformed body, we must accept that Jesus rose from the dead.
The importance of the Resurrection for Us (the Benefits that we reap from the Resurrection
The resurrection is the center of our faith, as Jesus has done what no other has done. Salvation would not exist for us, because a dead Savior cannot save His people. We have an eternal God, and eternal Savior. If He had not resurrected, the gospel would not be effective
The importance of the Resurrection for the enemies of Jesus
The importance of the Resurrection in accordance with all that Jesus said
Miscellaneous Points
You could wake up every morning and have a party to celebrate what God has done. You can create your own holiday celebrations
Jesus was able to prove that man could live on earth without sin if they stay close to God and His word, as he was 100% God and 100% man
