He Died For You!

Many languages in the world refer to the Easter period with the proper word e.g French - Pâques, Greek - Πάσχα (Pascha), Russian - Пасха (Paska), even Esperanto - Paska! These words are derived from Aramaic פסחא, cognate to Hebrew פֶּסַח (Pesach), i.e Passover, the time when Jesus was crucified, according to the Gospel records. Our word 'Easter', German 'Ostern', is derived from Ēastre, the name of a pagan goddess associated with spring.

No matter when we celebrate (according to the Gregorian or the Julian calendar or at Passover) the fact remains - the MOST IMPORTANT EVENT in history took place at the appointed time! Many of us contemplate it very often, perhaps even every day!

An accurate description of what would happen at the cross is found in the Old Testament. Isaiah 53 was written over 700 years before the birth of the Lord and was fulfilled when He was crucified. Let the words speak for themselves:

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Easter bunnies and eggs fade into significance when we look at the Cross and grasp what happened there. The promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, took our sins upon His body and was punished in our place. I should have died there because of my sins, but He took my place!! His atoning death procured salvation and healing (v.5) once and for all! Have you ever thanked Him from the bottom of your heart for dying for you? The greatest “Easter” gift you can receive today is salvation through repentance and faith. Your future destiny depends on it. Eternal life can be yours because Christ died and rose from the dead! Glory to Him!