Yesterday, I had the privilege once again of watching the movie titled “The Passion of the Christ”. I watched it with a group of people and we all felt the pain Jesus Christ went through on His way to the cross to die for the sin of mankind. So vivid was the picture of his punishment and pain that within minutes, some of the people I was watching with began to sob and cry out loud.

Let’s go back to the beginning. The first man and the first woman were not born but created. Adam and Eve were their names and they lived in the garden of Eden. They had a perfect state and had dominion over every thing that existed on earth.

Unfortunately, they fell from that glorious state by disobeying God’s command and eating fruit of the tree that He had commanded them not to eat from through the deceit of the devil. They were chased out of the garden of Eden and condemned to a life of hardship, pain and death.

God’s mercy wouldn’t let mankind go that easily. His heart of love was drawn to the certain death mankind would face and He quickly made a by-plan for man to escape that death and be returned to his state of glory. God therefore, sent His only begotten Son (the thing He loved the most) to the earth to bear the punishment of mankind on our behalf so that man could choose to avoid the imminent judgement and be returned to a life of glory.

Jesus Christ therefore came to the world a sinless being because He was born of a virgin. He lived in the world a little over 30 years, preached and taught God’s new plan for mankind’s restoration and went about doing good; healing all manner of diseases, touching peoples lives, solving their problems and even waking the dead. He was a friend to sinners and winebibers and money stealers (Nigerians) and tax collectors. He loved all and brought the message of salvation to all.

Jesus paid the ultimate price afterwards for mankind for it was necessary that blood be shed for remission (covering) of sins to be made possible. The blood covenant which is the strongest covenant in the universe must be activated for mankind to be delivered from the bondage of sin. Jesus Christ though sinless, took the place of mankind and died a shameful death on the cross after being tortured beyond what might ever have happened at Guantanamo Bay or any anti-terrorist agency. 

He was crucified. He hung up on the cross for our sins and died of a broken heart and body. The Son of God bore the sins of mankind and nailed them to the cross. On the third day, He rose from the death. Neither death, nor the grave could hold him. He got the keys of death from the devil and made a way of eternal escape from death and judgement for mankind.

Easter is a celebration of His resurrection. It is in His resurrection that victory is made available for all those who believe in Him and receive Him into their lives. It is in His resurrection that the bondage of sin and it’s consequences are annulled in the life of man. It is because He lives that life is worth living. All those who live without Jesus in their lives are living dead.

Anyone who must be delivered from a life of sin must ask God for forgiveness, believe in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ and accept Him into his or her life as Lord and Saviour. Then, one can have access to a life of restored glory and victory and eternal life.

Jesus is the reason for Easter. Any one who doesn’t have Him is simply wasting his time celebrating the season.