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Remember why we celebrate Easter
Pastor's corner
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In commemorating the Easter story, we gathered at churches and assemblies last Sunday, some as early as 6 a.m. for sunrise services.
The event that took place more than 2,000 years ago is still alive in the heart of every believer in Christ today. We know that when He hung on the cross, He was taking the sins of the world upon himself.
“But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:6). However, the link that brought the chain together was His resurrection. While we also celebrated Good Friday, we recognize that Friday was good but Sunday was even better.
Jesus promised that on the third day after his death, he would rise, but his disciples didn’t understand. So when it happened, they did not believe it until he appeared before to them. The resurrection of Christ is the hope of Christians. If Christ had not risen, then our preaching is empty and our faith is empty. If Christ is not risen, we have no hope beyond this life. In this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (I Corinthians 15:14, 19).
Because Christ rose from the grave, we know his promise was true. We can be certain our sins are forgiven and death is defeated, meaning we don’t have to fear death anymore, because when we die, we go to be with our Lord and Savior.
Paul reminds us of this in I Corinthians 15:54-55.  When he says, “so when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:  Death is swallowed up in victory.  O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?”
So we have the victory through His resurrection and Easter therefore becomes more than new clothes, speeches and egg hunts, even though there is significance in all of these, but a new life, a resurrected life in Christ.

Edwards is pastor of Agape Christian Fellowship Church.
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