The ManicaPost
Pastor Joseph Dhlakama
There are events that took place in afore times which shifted the course of the human race in all imaginable ways. The greatest of these events are the popularly celebrated “Christmas” and “Easter”.
Christmas remembers the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth while Easter is a commemoration of His death, burial and resurrection. In this very week the whole world, Christians and some none Christians gather in various settings and ceremonies to reflect and to celebrate the death that meant more than any other deaths and this is the death of Jesus Christ.
Several people have questioned the accuracy of the dates for this celebration but several theologians together with myself have said, it is one thing to doubt the accuracy of the dates when the event really occurred as to doubt whether the event itself ever happened or not.
Therefore, since the undeniably accepted and proven fact is that Jesus Christ lived on earth, then died the death by crucifixion and was buried then rose again after three days, we can not worry on the accuracy of the date but rather focus on celebrating the fact that He died and rose. Instead we take time to cherish the sacrifice and the work done for us through Christ’s death burial and resurrection.
Easter is also called Originally, the Hebrew word Pasach referred to the Passover feast mentioned in Exodus 12 that was celebrated during the same week Jesus was crucified.
This is the reason why some people also call Easter Passover, it all stems from the Exodus 12 event which was symbolic to the actual death of Jesus which would later take place in the New Testament. Let us briefly look at what happened at the Passover feast in Exodus 12 and then try to equate it to the death of Jesus in the New Testament.
In Exodus 12, the Passover was to begin with the people choosing a lamp from their flock which they would kill. Then they were supposed to sprinkle the blood on their door posts as they ate the meat indoors. This act would help to spare them from the death plague that was going to come over Egypt that night.
This night’s event would be a defining moment for Israel because then Pharaoh would release them from the four-hundred-and-thirty-year slavery. In like manner Easter is a celebration of a defining moment.
Jesus in John 1:29 is called the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross provided a way for humanity to escape from the bondage of sin and the devil and have another chance to be reunited with God their maker.
Jesus’ death burial and resurrection ushered in a new era for the human race. It is on these events that the Christian faith is hinged and the great apostle Paul writes that if it were not of these, then the hope and the faith of Christians was futile and in vain. The devil lost his power over God’s people because of these events that is why it is a defining moment. Humanity had hope again for a good life and for eternal life by this, that is the reason why it was a defining moment. Ultimately by the death burial and resurrection of Jesus we can now relate with God and have fellowship with Him as our father!
What else would one ask for? Jesus is the greatest gift and His death is the ultimate sacrifice, His resurrection the greatest miracle, all this done for us and all we need to do is to believe in Him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, so that who soever believes in Him will never perish but have eternal life.
As we celebrate Easter let us be reminded of its essence and let us accept the great work and sacrifice that Jesus Christ has done for us.
God bless you.
