What is Jesus’s Crucifixion and Resurrection, and why is it essential?
Hello, everyone. As Resurrection Sunday approaches, I would like to discuss two of the most significant, powerful, and impactful historical events: the genuine Crucifixion and the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Quite simply put, Jesus’s Crucifixion was the act of putting Him to death by nailing Him to a cross. Jesus’s Resurrection was the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead after His death on the cross.
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), the first four books of the New Testament of the Holy Bible, give an account of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection while on earth. Throughout the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, you will find several predictions of Jesus’s coming to earth as the Savior of the world.
I recommend reading all four Gospels to gain an in-depth understanding of Jesus’s life on earth. If you want to start with one book, I recommend reading the Gospel of John.
Now, before I discuss why Jesus’s Crucifixion and Resurrection are both so essential, I must first discuss why there was a great need for Jesus to die (Crucifixion) and then rise again to life (Resurrection).
When God created Adam (the first man) and Eve (the first woman), they lived in perfect harmony and fellowship with God. God told Adam that he could eat fruit from any tree in the Garden of Eden, except fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God told Adam that if he ever ate fruit from that specific tree, he would surely die.
One day, Satan, in the form of a serpent, tempted Eve to eat a piece of fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve gave in to the temptation and ate, then gave Adam the fruit, and he ate as well. This disobedience of Adam and Eve is where sin first entered the world, and because of the sin of the first man and woman, the Bible says that we are all guilty of sin. Romans 3:23 NLT states, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
As a result of this original sin, we are now all born with a sinful nature that rebels against God. Sin causes us to be separated from having a right relationship with God. God is Holy, and Holy God cannot align Himself with sin. So now humanity has the problem of being eternally separated from God as well as having to pay the penalty for their sins, which is death (physical and spiritual death).
This great problem needs a great solution. This is where God’s great mercy and love for His creation come in. God solved the problem by sending His Son Jesus into the world. Jesus became the mediator, the one who would bridge the gap that separated humanity from God.
The Bible says in John 3:16 ESV, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The Bible also says in Romans 6:23 NLT, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
So you see from this verse that the wages or payment for our sin is death, but God’s free gift to us is that we can have eternal life in Heaven with Him through faith in Jesus, His Son.
Here is where I’ll discuss why Jesus’s Crucifixion is so essential.
Jesus loved us so much that He graciously and willingly died on the cross to pay the debt humanity owed God for their sin and rebellion. Jesus was the only one qualified to be humanity’s substitution because He was without sin.
The crucifixion of Jesus is incredibly important because it represents the sacrifice and redemption of humanity’s sins. Through His crucifixion, Jesus willingly took upon Himself the punishment for our sins, providing forgiveness and salvation to all who believe in Him. Here are a few Bible verses that highlight the significance of Jesus’s crucifixion:
Let’s revisit John 3:16 ESV: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This well-known verse highlights God’s great love for humanity through Jesus’s crucifixion, offering the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NLT: ” But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” This verse accentuates the sacrificial nature of Jesus’s crucifixion, as He died for us while we were still in a state of sin. It shows the depth of God’s love and His desire for reconciliation with humanity.
Colossians 2:13-14 NLT: (verse 13) ” You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” (verse 14) “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” This passage highlights how Jesus’s crucifixion not only provides forgiveness for our sins but also wipes away the record of our past transgressions, offering complete freedom and redemption.
These verses, among many others in the Bible, emphasize the importance of Jesus’s crucifixion in providing salvation, forgiveness, and reconciliation between humanity and God. It symbolizes God’s incredible love and mercy, demonstrating His plan for humanity’s redemption through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross.
Now, let’s discuss Jesus’s triumphant Resurrection.
Jesus’s Resurrection is the most significant event in Christianity and history at large as it signifies Jesus’ victory over sin and death and the promise of eternal life for believers.
The significance of Jesus’s Resurrection can be found in several Bible verses (Here are just a few verses):
1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV – “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” This verse highlights the essential role of Jesus’s resurrection in the forgiveness of sins and the redemption of humanity.
Romans 6:9 NLT – “We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. ” This verse emphasizes the power of Jesus’ resurrection, which conquered death and established his eternal dominion.
1 Peter 1:3 NLT – “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.” This verse captures the hope and new life that believers receive through Jesus’s resurrection.
Romans 8:11 NLT – “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” This verse highlights the connection between Jesus’s resurrection and the assurance of resurrection for believers in the future.
Overall, Resurrection Sunday is significant because it proclaims the central message of Christianity – that Jesus Christ has overcome sin and death, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
As we commemorate Resurrection Sunday, let us reflect on its true meaning and honor the Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving and reverence for His great loving sacrifice on the cross, followed by His most powerful and triumphant resurrection.
Hallelujah! All praises to the Lord Jesus Christ!
As always, remember to Seek Jesus 4 Life!!!
Steps To Salvation:
If you haven’t trusted Jesus to be your Savior and Lord of your life and would desire this great gift of salvation and eternal life with the Lord Jesus Christ, here are the steps you can take.
1. ADMIT that you are a sinner (the Bible says in Romans 3:23 ESV, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”,)
2. REPENT and be willing to turn from your sin.
3. BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
4. RECEIVE, through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life. The Bible says in Romans 10:13 ESV, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” That includes you, no matter what you may have done in the past. Jesus loves you and is forgiving, and He wants to walk with you in your life as your Savior and Lord.
Here is a sample prayer for you to pray (and you can use this prayer if this is what you sincerely believe or say your own words), but what matters most is that you pray your words from your heart because Jesus knows your heart.
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen. (https://peacewithgod.net/steps/ paraphrased)
