In the Christian faith, during Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Promise—Jesus was born. During Easter we celebrate the fulfillment of the Promise—Jesus’ death and resurrection. So, what is this Promise? For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. (John 3:16-17). This is the Promise—the gift of salvation.
On the sixth day of creation, God created humans. So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27). Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way (v. 31). Then only two chapters later, we messed everything up and sinned for the first time. So the Lord banished Adam and his wife from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23) and our lives with sin began…
Now let’s talk about who is the Promise? Isaiah Chapter 53 describes who He is and what He goes through for us!! His name is JESUS!
2 There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was wounded and crushed for our sins.
He was beaten that we might have peace.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.
9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.
10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the sinners.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.
At God’s appointed time, Jesus was born in Bethlehem and we celebrate his birth at Christmas. “Look! The Virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God with us)” (Matthew 2:23). And at the appointed time, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice “Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”… Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:45-50). A rich man, who was a follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for his body and buried Jesus in a brand-new tomb. He rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb.
Jesus was in the tomb for three days. But then, God fulfilled His biggest promise yet. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it… The angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid! He said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen” (Matthew 28:2-7).
And that is the story of salvation. Do you know Jesus? If not, today is your day of salvation. Simply ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and invite Him into your life. He will be with you just as He promised: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Let’s celebrate Easter every day!