EASTER- The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ

I once read a commentary on a christian blog i follow from a muslim woman whom agreed that Jesus Christ was without any sin but could not understand; why God allowed Christ to suffer the way He did and ultimately be put to death? In her opinion; why would a Just God allow an innocent person to suffer that way? Dear Friends, as we celebrate easter this season, it is imperative for us to know and understand the way of the cross, the passion of our Lord and the reason for our celebration.

First of all it is important for us to understand that God is a Spirit and from time immemorial, people always offered sacrifices to God as an act of worship, reverence or in obedience to an instruction from God Himself. see (Gen 4:3-5); (Gen 22:2); (Chron 7:4-5) and (Lev 23:12).

As God led the children of Israel to the promised land, He knew that they would not be able to perfectly keep the law-the ten commandments; so he gave them a set of additional ceremonial laws or ordinances as a
way out of the consequence of their sins should anyone fall short of His standards so that His wrath would not fall upon them. One of those laws is the law of sin offering. it was written, 'thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering and of a ram as a burnt offering' -Leviticus(16:3)

In those days, whenever any son of Israel committed sin, he would take a lamb or a young bull to the priest. The guilty person then lays hands on the animal and his sins is then transferred from the person to the animal.  The animal is then slaughtered because the wages of sin is death see (Romans 6:23) while the guilty party goes away free. The priest then takes the blood of the sacrificed animal and pours it out on the alter of God as an atonement for the sins of the offender.

Now it is important to note at this point that the sacrificed animal had to be without a mark or blemish for it was written, 'you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats. whatever has a defect you shall NOT offer for it shall NOT be acceptable on your behalf' - Leviticus (22:19-20).

It may not be convenient for us today to sacrifice an animal as a sin offering every single time someone sinned. Besides some people may say they are not jews...and 'so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many' - (Hebrews 9:28). whether Jew or gentile salvation is extended to all.

Dear Friends, Jesus Christ our Lord was the Sacrificial Lamb of God. Just as it was done in ancient Jewish tradition. He bore our sins so that we may be free from the consequence of sin which is death ( the second death)

Jesus Christs physical blood was poured out as recorded in (John 19:34) 'but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear and immediately blood and water came out'. This was necessary because it has been written, ' and according to the law almost all things are purified with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no remission'.- (Hebrews 9:22)

The scripture also had to be fulfilled for the Lord had promised us of his redemptive sacrifice in (Leviticus 17:11) when He said, 'For the Life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul'.

Dear Brothers, when the Lord poured out His blood, He did it that we may obtain Life (Eternal Life) for he said, the life of the flesh is in the blood. It is interesting to also note here that the muslim woman too acknowledged that Jesus Christ was without sin. Thus only the blood of Jesus is accepted by God as an atonement for our sins. Like the ancient jewish sacrificial lamb that had to be without blemish, Jesus Christ was without sin..making Him the perfect sacrifice.

Jesus Christ offered His Life willingly for our sakes. One may ask; 'why would one pay the price for another's  error even to the point of death'? The answer is found in (John 3:16) 'for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son; that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Life'.

And so brothers, it is only right that we as believers celebrate Easter- the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, because by dying he destroyed our death and by rising from the dead, He demonstrated His power over death. we have hope that He will also raise us up on the last day unto Eternal glory for he promised,' And this is the will of Him who sent Me that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have Everlasting Life and I will raise him up at the last day' - (John 6:40)

He also said, ' I am the resurrection and the Life, He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall Live and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' - (John 11:25-26). And let it be so unto us even now and forever...Amen!