1. World over, since the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave the church has not ceased up till now to announce Christ’s resurrection. The church has since been proclaiming it, announcing it and telling it world wide. The church has not ceased celebrating it yearly.
Amazingly it was an angel of God that first announced the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “And the angel answered and said unto the woman, fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which 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 for he is risen from the dead: and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you” Matt 28:5-7
But desperate efforts were made by the chief priests and the elders to cover this truth.
“And when they were assembled with the elders, and taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers Saying Say ye, his disciples came by night to steal him way while we slept. And if this comes to the governor’s ears we will persuade him and secure you.” Matt. 28:12-14
Do we still see priests and elders in our days who still oppose the doctrine of Christ and strongly oppose the work of the Holy Spirit because of their church doctrines? Do we still see soldiers in our days that still take bribes? The church should be praying for them so as to encounter Christ.
2. The Easter Day or Easter period should be set aside for announcing the resurrection of the lord Jesus from the grave, despite the evil machinations of the high priests, the elders and the corrupt soldiers. The soldiers were corrupt and did as they were told when they had received a large sum of money: “So they took the money and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Matt. 28:15
Are you in the habit of covering the truth in your place of worship or in your office or in your place of work? Do you always tell lies like those soldiers and the high priests and those elders: “saying, say ye his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept?” Matt. 28:13 The Easter time is a great opportunity for you to look inwards and see if you are still telling lies and repent quickly, asking the risen Christ to forgive you. Definitely he will, if you sincerely repent and turn away from those sins. Many even have gone so far as telling lies against their neighbors in the court confusing the judge and the judge himself sometimes, after taking bribe, takes sides with the liars to prevent justice. At Easter as we proclaim the resurrection of Christ let true repentance take place in our lives.
3. Celebrating Easter period is not out of place because Jesus resurrected, conquered the world and gave us victory; So we shall also rise with him. So we should rejoice because he will give us a place in heaven:
“In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I would come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3.
But the celebration of Easter today, in our present world, has come up in a different dimension. Immorality, alcoholism, fighting in ceremonies have characterized the merriments that are carried out in the name of the Easter. Rather, the celebration should be centred on worshipping Christ, learning more about Christ and witnessing more about Christ. It is a good time, that preaching should be intensified and the winning of souls for Christ should be one of our greatest desires.
Some have defiled themselves, their marriages at a time like this. All these call for repentance as we celebrate Easter: “know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?” 1 Cor.6:15.“Because it is written, be ye holy: for I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16.
So, we are warned and should take heed to the scriptures.
4. Jesus was crucified for our sins. He was buried and on the third day he rose.
This is the reason why we should rejoice and celebrate the Easter, He paid the debt which he did not owe. He shed his blood for our sins. The enemies of Christ were surprised that he rose from the dead. That is a great joy for us.
But let sinners therefore repent. I begin to think whether there are no armed robbers who would withdraw from the road to come to celebrate with worshipper in their places of worship and later go to their evil business on the high ways. And I begin to think whether there are no kidnappers who will withdraw from the forests briefly to celebrate with worshippers and later retreat to their devilish work in the forest. I do not know. But the eyes of the Lord are moving to and fro and are in every place beholding the evil and the good. [Pro. 15:3]
Now it ought to dawn on every soul that the celebration of Easter calls for thanks to God, calls for worshipping God in spirit and in truth. It also calls for announcing the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming back to take his own from this, evil, corrupt, twisted world. He will come to take away his bride, the church. Therefore, today, during this Easter season think of your soul and never go with a world that is awry, out of control; never go with this world which is already living apart from God.
Let us avidly watch and eagerly watch and pray as we celebrate the Easter. Time is winding down. Accept Christ today and be saved.
