What Difference Does Easter Make?

This Easter season over a billion people will celebrate Easter all around the world. How is it that something could happen over 2,000 years ago, and still cause traffic jams today? What does Easter and the resurrection mean? What if he had not risen? And why does it matter? A Gallup poll a number of years ago said that 84% of the people, who never go to church, believe that Jesus rose from the dead. It’s an historical fact. It wasn't done in secret. The whole city of Jerusalem knew about it and eventually the whole Roman Empire. It was news. If CNN had been there, they would have had it live. There are at least 15 historical references to Jesus meeting people, touching people, talking with people. One time He cooked breakfast for some people. One time He talked to about 500 people after He had risen from the dead. A lot of people saw Him. Christ predicted His resurrection on several occasions. Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." John 2:19 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40 If He had not risen there would be no gospel, our faith would be groundless, and we would be spreading a lie. If He had not risen we would have no hope for the future. There would be no hope for a future in heaven. “Christ died for our sins and He was buried and he was raised from the dead on the third day; just as the Scriptures said.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 So what does the resurrection matter? What difference does it make? Without the truth of this message, Christ’s death was worthless, and we have no hope. However, Christ as the sinless Son of God took the punishment of sin so that those who believe can have their sins removed. Christ’s death on the cross was no accident or afterthought. It had been part of God’s plan from all eternity in order to bring about the salvation of all who believe. This means our past is forgiven. That's good news. He has forgiven all our sins and canceled every record of the debt we owed. Christ has done away with it by nailing it to the cross. This is God's pardon program. He says He nailed it all to the cross. Jesus paid for my guilt. That means I don't have to pay for it. We all have things we wish we hadn't done and said things we wish we hadn't said, thought things we wish we hadn't thought. We all have regrets. We all feel bad about things. We all have guilt. He says He wants to cancel every record of all debts we owe -- emotional debts, relational debts, sins. Once God's forgiven it, I can forget it. That's good news! "There is no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ." Romans 8:1 He says, I want to wipe your slate clean. That's good news. Not guilty, let him go free. What would those words mean to us if we were on death row? The fact is that the whole human race is on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly breaking God’s holy law. Without Jesus we would have no hope at all. But thank God! He has declared us not guilty and has offered us freedom from sin and power to do his will. It also means our future can be secure. How do we get eternal life? “And this is the way to have eternal life – by knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth! John 17:3 Jesus tells us clearly, by knowing God the Father himself through is Son, Jesus. Eternal life requires entering into a personal relationship with God. When we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ’s love lives in us. The Bible says that Jesus has already paid for your way to heaven. This is news you can use. What is your source of hope? Would you like to have every sin, everything you've ever done wrong completely forgiven? Would like to have a clear conscious? Would you like to have your future secured? That’s the difference that Easter can make. God knows you and He wants you to know Him. So come to Him with an open heart and say, “God, here I am.”