By Donna Westfall – March 27, 2016 – Among the Easter baskets filled with chocolate and decorated eggs, and the Easter egg hunts for the kids, the real reason for the season can be summed up in three words, The New Covenant.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, Moses brought down from Mount Sinai, the Ten Commandments from God. Faithful people offered up animal sacrifices according to the laws given to Moses to ask God to forgive their sins and have mercy on them. The lamb had special meaning because it was lamb’s blood the Israelites painted on their doorposts to avoid death on the night of Passover. (Exodus 12:11-13).
Lamb is also the center of the Passover meal. The ultimate Passover lamb – Jesus Christ – for those that believe he is the Messiah. 44 Messianic prophesies fulfilled by the Old Testament starting with Genesis 3:15 and ending with Isaiah 53: 5-12 that Jesus would be a sacrifice for sin.
What is the real meaning of Easter? In John 1:29, as he sees Jesus approaching, John the Baptist announces to the crowd around him, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Traveling to Israel on a Holy Land tour, you are brought to the cave where Jesus’ body was laid out after his crucifixion. According to the Old Testament, after three days, he would rise and walk among the living. The only man to ever do so.
The resurrection of Jesus on the third day is the Good News and one that is celebrated throughout the world on Easter Sunday.
His is risen.
Happy Easter.
