It’s No Mystery…

What do you see in your mind’s eye when you think of Easter?

• Spring
• Flowers
• Newness
• Frilly dresses
• Colored Eggs
• Baskets of goodies
• Chocolate Bunnies (I’m an ears first kinda girl)

These are fun things we enjoy at Easter but, is that what it’s all about? The true meaning may seem like a mystery, but it’s not!

If you research the origins of Easter, you will find a bit of a mixed bag of who did what first. Many views of the origin say Easter began as a pagan festival to celebrate the spring equinox.

We are told that the Christian view of Easter was taken from pagan celebrations and that symbols used in these pagan festivals were transformed into different meanings to fit the Christian view. For example, the “Easter egg” as a symbol of new life.

According to the encyclopedia Britannica, (yeah, encyclopedias still exist!) it isn’t until the second century that we find an actual recorded observance of an Easter celebration. However, it is believed the remembrance of Jesus’s resurrection most likely occurred earlier.

For me, the “historical” origin of Easter doesn’t matter. It has always been and always will be the day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus three days after his crucifixion.

In our home, we call this day of celebration Resurrection Sunday. Churches observe Christ’s resurrection with elaborate plays and musicals. We dress in our best and bring our praise and thanks to the Lord for His sacrifice on Calvary.

But there would be no celebration without one thing … the blood of Christ.

“There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.”
~Lewis E. Jones, 1899 (public domain)

Talk of “the blood” has fallen out in many churches, but there is power in the blood of Jesus.

Redemption

This is the greatest gift the blood gives us. It washes away our sins and sets us free from the curse of the law. This means the Mosaic Law and its strict requirements one must follow. The blood of Jesus, once and for all, set us free and redeems us.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
~Ephesians 1:7

Fellowship With God

When I think of “Fellowship“, church dinners and activities come to mind. And that is fellowship. But fellowship with God is deeper.

The shed blood of Jesus gives us the audacious right to come directly into the presence of God. What does this right afford us? Forgiveness. Personal Revival. Purpose. Peace. And so much more.

Healing

Scripture tells us that Jesus was beaten and bruised … tortured … even before He was nailed to the cross. They mocked Him by forcing a crown of thorns on His head. When Jesus gave His life, He suffered for more than our salvation.

As His precious blood flowed and His body bruised from the beatings, He was taking upon Himself our sickness. This fulfilled the word given by the prophet Isaiah—”He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” (Matthew 8:17)

Those are not my words, y’all. That is from God!

“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are HEALED.”
~Isaiah 53:5

Protection

Many may know the account in the old testament of the Egyptian Pharaoh who refused to release the children of Israel he enslaved. The plagues sent by God to deal with his rebellion so angered the Pharaoh that he ordered the death of all the firstborn of Israel.

Even though the people of God had broken covenant, God could—and would—protect them. But this protection required a blood covering.

As directed by God, the people took the blood of a perfect lamb and spread it on the doorposts of their homes. And God protected them! Not a single firstborn of Israel died.

This blood was not just blood from a lamb, but blood that represented the blood of Jesus—the Lamb of God “slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8)

Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection we live in the newness of life He freely gives us everyday. We can stand on His promises and boldly proclaim the blood over our homes and families.

Despite what the world may say or has become, this truth remains … The Blood will NEVER lose its Power!