What is Easter?

Matthew 1:21 “because [Jesus] will save his people from their sins.”

Bunnies, decorated eggs, beautiful dresses, and family photos all make Easter exciting. But what is Easter really all about.

Easter is a season to rejoice—everyone who has trusted in Christ can celebrate being “saved” from their sins. Jesus came to save his people from a mess that they had created. In Genesis 1–2, God created all things, and it was “good.” In Genesis 3, the story of God’s good world is turned upside down. When God pronounces judgment on Adam, Eve, and the serpent, all parties try to blame another for their sin (rebellion against God). The result of this sin is catastrophic—God removes his children from the garden.

In spite of man’s rebellion against God’s created order, God does not leave Adam and Eve without hope for a future restoration. God promises he will send the one who will crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). This serpent crusher will come to bring God’s people back to the garden, when it was “good” between God and man.

The Old Testament tells the story of how God chooses Abraham to be the father of a great nation. Through Abraham, God promises to send one who will make right what Adam and Eve made wrong. Through years of wilderness wandering, slavery, and foreign occupation of their promised land, the people of God continually look for the one who will deal with their biggest issue—a broken relationship with God.

Matthew 1 quells the concern of God’s people since the garden—the one has come. Jesus is the promised one who is to bring his people back to the Father. Jesus is the one who “will save his people from their sins.”

The rest of the book of Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ perfect life. He was rejected by his own people. Instead of being worshiped, his kinsmen chose to have him crucified. Jesus was innocent, but he loved his people so much that he willingly took the punishment for their sin on himself. God’s wrath was poured out on the Son, and the Son died the death that God’s people deserved. He resurrected and then ascended to the right hand of the Father, so that his people could indeed be saved from their sin.

The gospel of Jesus calls us to recognize that God has authority over our lives. We have rebelled against that good authority. Jesus came to save us from our rebellion against God. We must respond in faith and repentance to receive Jesus’ forgiveness. In faith, we trust that we can only be saved from God’s wrath because of what Jesus has done for us. In repentance, we turn from ourselves toward God as the one who has ultimate authority over us.

At Morgan Grace Church, we pray that this Easter would be a season for you to consider trusting in Jesus alone to save you from your sins.