Many Australians are happy about Easter for the simple reason that it means another day off. But the actual event behind the celebration is anything but a day off. The Easter celebrations begin with Good Friday. On a Friday around 33AD, (give or take a few years) the sky went dark as the one they called “Christ” died while on a wooden cross. It was not surprising he died. It was the result of a well designed system of Roman military justice. Everyone who was crucified died. Thousands of people died in this way while Rome ruled the world. What makes Jesus’ death significant is the expectation he had of it.

Jesus did not try to escape this death. He spoke of it as an integral part of his mission to his friends and followers. As he traveled up to Jerusalem for the last time he took his twelve disciples aside and said about himself:. “They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.” But that isn’t where he left it- in the same conversation Jesus said this; “On the third day he will be raised to life”. It seems that those he told this to didn’t fully comprehend his resurrection until after they had seen him raised.

Jesus’ death and resurrection were seen by Jesus as necessary. Why?  Because of the way it would fulfill the expectations of God’s promises in the Old Testament. The people of God in Israel had celebrated the grace God showed them in rescuing them from slavery. They did this annually by killing a lamb and eating it; the “Passover lamb”. It was called the Passover lamb as it was first eaten by God’s people the night that God’s judgment passed over all those who had poured its blood over their door-ways. The Passover lamb had to die in order for people to live. They lived, but also had sustenance from the lamb. They also ate bread which was quickly prepared, without yeast so it didn’t rise. This was because they had to be in a hurry- as they left Egypt to follow God to their new land.

On the night he was handed over to those who wanted him dead, Jesus celebrated the Passover with his friends- but with some significant differences. He took the bread and said to “take and eat, this is my body”. He then took a cup and said “Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink from the fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom”.(Matthew 26:27) So as he had Passover he was saying that somehow his body, his blood, his death is like what happened at the original Passover. God’s anger and punishment passes over us and fall on Jesus. His blood saves us. We get life from him. And he will see his followers again in the Kingdom of God. “Behold the Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the World” is what John the Baptist says to the crowds when he announces Jesus.

This Easter, why don’t you place your trust in Jesus. His life, death, resurrection and coming again. Let’s help others see how in Jesus we too have God’s right anger pass over us. Good Friday : 9am Easter Sunday : 10 am and 6:30 pm.