Take another look at Easter. Start with the visual embodiment of God Himself, Jesus. He’s the breathing, walking example of what perfect obedience to God looks like in a human body.
- He is loving and gracious. He loves without first sorting people into groups that deserve it, need it, or trade it. He offers grace without setting limits on how often or how severely it is needed.
- He is humble and accessible. He doesn’t puff up with bragging, tower over with authority, or stay distant in higher thoughts. He touches lepers, embraces children, and teaches us with common examples so we can understand and remember.
- He is true and focused. In the synagogue or in the sinner’s house, He is always the same – pure and holy, yet loving. Everything He does or says is to bring people into a relationship with God that doesn’t manipulate others, doesn’t try to manipulate God, and doesn’t hide reality.
- He is strong and bold. He stands as a shield for the helpless and an active force against hypocrisy. He has power over winds, waves, and demonic forces. He maintains control over His divine power, His free will, and His expressed thoughts.
None of us have been perfectly obedient, but through Jesus, anyone who wants to come to God can. Then, as we depend on Jesus completely, we become like Him in obedience, love, humility, truth, and strength.
Now look at all that went into the crucifixion. Look at what Jesus confronted and what we must let Him deal with in our own hearts, because it is sin’s very essence.
- Sin is betrayal, following the serpent’s advice instead of obeying God’s command. Judas sold his relationship with Jesus for the price of a slave. Who are we following? How are we selling out?
- Sin is denial, turning away from God and others instead of embracing community and compassion. When Jesus needed them the most, His closest friends fell asleep, ran away, and denied they even knew Him. Who is our community? Are we compassionately involved?
- Sin is injustice, bowing to greed, hypocrisy, and cowardice instead of standing with God’s righteousness. Witnesses were paid to lie, leaders created excuses to legally kill Jesus, authorities refused to decide between clearly right and clearly wrong, and individuals joined the crowd calling for His death. Where does injustice reign, and where do we stand?
- Sin is violence, expressing hatred of others through words, gestures, and blows instead of behaving respectfully. Jesus was mocked, spit on, laughed at, punched, whipped, pierced — and more — by some of the same people He taught and fed. Do we love others as ourselves?
Finally, look at the tomb. See that sin leads to death, darkness, and isolation from God and others. But look again! God moved the stone that blocked the way between life and death. Look once more and see for yourself.
- Resurrection is complete healing. Soldiers whipped Jesus’ body into ribbons, leaving Him too weak to carry His cross. These professionals killed people daily. Jesus was dead. But He walked out of the grave by His own strength. All that remained of His injuries were a few scars, the testimony of what He endured. We are beaten in many ways, but Jesus heals us, turning our scars into testimonies.
- Resurrection is restored identity. People abused Jesus’ face until He no longer looked human. When He left the tomb, He left the veil that covered His face. The people who knew Him best recognized Him, as did hundreds of others. We don’t need to hide our faces because Jesus restores our individual identities.
- Resurrection is appropriate covering. Jesus left behind the blood-spotted grave clothes, but He was not naked when He revealed Himself. Sin brings the shame and separation that demands a covering. Jesus brings His righteousness, which is the covering we need.
- Resurrection is eternal freedom. Jesus was bound by laws, lies, cords, nails, grave clothes, and a stone. He dealt with all the bindings that sin puts on us, and He walked out free, never to be bound again. Jesus offers us the same freedom as we commit ourselves to Him.
Jesus warns us we will face sin from time to time, but we have His example to follow and His resurrection as a promise. “In Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33b (NIV)