Easter letter
Why celebrate Easter?
As the time of Easter approaches I am reminded of the hope and peace that is bound to this holiday celebration and the refinement of that spirit of peace, as its meaning and purpose are revealed. In this present day the daily news can be a burdensome and grievous event, but God gives us a different picture and a future reality that we should look towards that will conclude the woes and worries of our current generation.
Easter is the celebration of the risen Savior and the meaning of Christ’s resurrection from the dead is tied to the symbolism of Old Testament sacrifices. In that time the sacrifice of offerings on the alter served as a foreshadowing of the truth Jesus was revealing about himself and his offering to us through his life. This celebration of Easter coincides with the Jewish feast of Passover, when Israel was delivered from the judgement of God, against the evil of the Egyptians. The blood of the Passover offering protected those who placed it on their dwellings, as they were “passed over” by the destroyer in the book of Exodus.
Deuteronomy 16:1-4-
Observe the month of Aviv and celebrate the Passover of the LORD your God, because in the month of Aviv he brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 Sacrifice as the Passover to the LORD your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for his Name. 3 Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt. 4 Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain until morning.
Jesus was the sacrifice offered by God, in willing submission, as an offering for sin, to cleanse the heart of each person from the rebellion against their Creator. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). For God to be fully just, he must bring an end to sin, but out of love for his creation he does not will that any should perish. (2 Pet. 3:9) Like the sacrificial offering in the Old Testament Jesus was offered during Passover . Leaven, as explained in the New Testament, is like sin spreading throughout the entire offering. Fulfilling the symbolism of the feast of unleavened bread, in Jesus there was no sin, or leaven. He was the heavenly bread provided by God. As Israel received manna from heaven to feed them in the wilderness, Christ is the heavenly bread to all who believe, feeding us with spiritual food. Also as the offering in the Old Testament was not meant to be left until morning, Jesus was removed from the cross and placed in a tomb. Not a bone was broken on the cross, once again in keeping with the Passover laws of the Old Test.
The feast of first fruits was the first offering of the people of Israel from the food of the lands they would inhabit. This also foreshadows Jesus as the first fruits of the redeemed by God. As Christ rose from the dead the promise is made to all who believe in him, that they too shall be raised in victory, from sin and death.
Easter is the modern celebration of the victory of Jesus on the cross. Christ set aside his glory to come in physical body on this earth and dwell with man, to be beaten, crucified and raised as a validation of the promise God has made to all who seek him and as verification of our fallen condition. Easter reminds us of these profound facts.
Jesus satisfied the law and wrath against sin in his sacrifice on the cross.
He was raised declaring victory and fulfillment of the promise.
He will return to receive the kingdom of his people.
This is a reminder to us. The return of the Lord is promised. As God fulfilled his promises to Israel, he will not fail to fulfill this promise. Christ took the wrath of God on himself to all who would receive this gift, passing over the redeemed with the blood of his offering on our spirit. Have you placed your hope on a foundation that has been tested? Do you have peace in the midst of uncertainty? It is always at hand and no one is too far outside of the Lord’s mercy and grace. May he grant you the peace to know him and look to his return in the days to come.
Have a safe and blessed Easter,
Sincerely,
Ryan Talbert