By Pastor Samuel Namatiiti
A few years ago, as the Easter season began here in Uganda, a radio program presenter decided to promote Easter as the most prominent event that has ever taken place on earth, including Christmas. As Easter was approaching, he devoted all his time convincing his audience to begin celebrating Easter with a lot of jubilation, lots of food and various drinks.
His main argument was that since Jesus was able to overcome the grave and rose from the dead, this was enough reason for mankind to jubilate and celebrate! Looking at his argument from the surface, his idea seemed marketable. However, despite the producer’s efforts to sell his argument with many creative ideas, songs and engaging talks, it appeared that his idea attracted few followers and buyers.
The whole issue diminished without moving the needle even a little bit. Quite amazing, isn’t it? Personally, I wanted to engage the radio presenter and take him on his idea even more, but I decided not to engage him as it was a fruitless effort. The whole idea seemed “dead on arrival!” One would wonder, “Why?” My answer would simply be that ‘I am sure it is because of the Uniqueness of Easter.”
Universal major events
Two major events have radically impacted both heaven and earth in very unequalled ways. The first one is Christmas, which commemorates the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ into this world. The second one is Easter, which itself tells the story of the crucifixion, death, and resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ. On these two events is where the hope of mankind is held, the hope that man will have life after their physical death on earth.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Christmas proclaims the birth of a unique Child/Son of God, who was given to mankind for Salvation to whoever believes in Him!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16 (NIV).
Christmas continues to proclaim that “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
In the Gospel, according to Luke, when the angel announced the birth of Jesus, he said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Therefore, because of the above proclamations, Christmas deserves the right for jubilation, celebration, and rejoicing. Lots of eating and singing joyous, thankful songs, mainly to God, must be the order of the day during the Christmas season.
It is also important to note that Christmas joyfully points to Easter, in disguise. It is for this reason that Christmas must be celebrated annually to remind us of the forthcoming Easter. This event took place in the 33rd year of the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Without Christmas, Easter would have never happened. Yet without Easter, Christmas would only have been short-lived. If Jesus Christ had only been born, done all the miracles He performed, then died and was buried, His fame would have remained where He ended and probably been written down in books for scholars to read about. That is what brings out the uniqueness of Easter.
Easter season
It is now approximately 2026 years since Jesus Christ rose from the grave and He established for us a living Hope. He also opened the new chapter of Life after death. Spiritually, Hope is not a myth but a living person, Jesus Christ, the Lord and Hope of glory. He Himself had earlier proclaimed that.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live again. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
The living hope embedded in Easter is not a mere wishful thought but rather a Person, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of Lords. He is the only true Living Hope for life after death. While we have the heavenly hope, a life after death, we trust that God will also take care of our current earthly needs.
However, if our eyes look only for what we want to gain here on earth, we lose both the heavenly and the earthly promises altogether. Therefore, our minds must be well-focused on that which is important, our heavenly promise. Easter is way beyond the physical.
Serious spiritual issue of the heart
During his crucifixion, Jesus was nailed on the cross between two lawbreakers/thieves, one on His right side and the other on His left side. From the world’s viewpoint, all three (Jesus Christ and the two thieves) were counted and regarded as criminals! From the viewpoint of the two thieves, there were also differing points.
One of them was looking at Jesus as probably one who may be able to rescue all of them from their crosses and free them back to their former lifestyle of robbery and vandalising people. For it says, one of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Luke 23:39.
The second one, on the other hand, saw Jesus as the one who owns the future, beyond the grave and one who can remember those who put their trust in Jesus. The Bible clearly tells us about the other criminal’s plea to his fellow criminal and to the Lord Jesus Christ:
“But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man (Jesus Christ) has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom (Luke 23: 41-42).
During all this, our Lord Jesus, also on His own cross bleeding, He held a heavenly view. He listened and responded to the second criminal who pleaded with Him to remember Him when He reaches paradise. He is the Saviour and Redeemer of whoever calls upon His Name, no matter what circumstance the caller is in.
For though, at that time, Jesus and the two thieves were in a terrible and unfavourable circumstance of crucifixion, Jesus was still very able to command all kinds of situations. Surely, He said to the thief, who called upon His name; “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Vs 43)
His final words, while on the cross, were “It is finished”. The death of our Lord, Jesus Christ, opened the door to salvation of the inner man, for whoever calls on the name Jesus. Romans 10:12-13 declares that: For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
It doesn’t need to be a sophisticated kind of a long prayer, but rather just a sincere genuine, even if it were a short prayer from a desperate heart. It is the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which resulted from His suffering and death on the Cross and in it is the power to wash all our sins away. And that is what shows the Uniqueness of the Easter event.
One day, Dr Edward Sali (Founder and Director of Women’s Hospital International) was speaking to a group of women about pregnancy issues. I happened to be there as a spiritual encourager, simply to point them to trust in God. However, as the doctor was explaining physical body issues, he made a stunning statement that left me extremely amazed.
He elaborated, saying, “a dying animal (lacking blood) can be transfused with human blood and survive. Yet man cannot be transfused with animal blood and survive. Which surely means that animals that shed blood, even if for sacrifice, could never eradicate man’s sinfulness:
Therefore, Christ needed to become a man, with human flesh, enabling redemption of mankind, you and I inclusive: For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, – Isaiah 9:6,7 (NIV). Jesus was born, but Christ was given to us by God the Father.
Therefore, Jesus Christ was 100 per cent man and 100 per cent God. His death and resurrection were unique. His first drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane set the process of redeeming us from our sins. On the Cross, He deliberately yielded His Spirit into the hands of His Father in Heaven. His body was buried in the grave, but the grave could not contain Him. Therefore, He rose again on the first day of the week, now always being referred to as “The Lord’s Day”. That makes Easter Unique.
May this year’s Easter remembrance bring with it real, meaningful impact to you and me, for a better understanding of His death and Resurrection! Amen.
