By Dr. Jim Denison, as written and posted on the Denison Forum
Remember Easter
Now, what does the fact of Jesus’ divinity mean for you today?
One: He is present in your pain.
David said to God, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). God promised his people, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2–3). God is with us in our greatest pain. Easter proves that Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus is present in your pain. He suffered the worst torture known to man in his crucifixion. He wept at the grave of Lazarus. He has been tempted in every way we are (Hebrews 4:15). When you wonder if Jesus is with you in your sufferings, challenges, and temptations, remember Easter.
Two: He hears your every prayer.
Jesus promised, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8). The psalmist testified, “Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17). God hears our prayers. Easter proves that Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus hears your every prayer. The next time you wonder if Jesus is listening to you, remember Easter.
Three: He is more powerful than your greatest problems.
The Bible says of God, “It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:17). God is omnipotent. Easter proves that Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus is more powerful than your greatest problems. The next time you wonder if Jesus has the power to help you with your challenges and struggles, remember Easter.
Four: He loves you where you are, as you are.
The Bible says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Easter proves that Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus loves you where you are, as you are. The next time you wonder if Jesus will forgive your sins, if he loves you no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, remember Easter.
Why was Jesus’ resurrection necessary?
Can the risen Christ change any life? Can he heal any pain, hear anyone’s prayer, address anyone’s problem, and love any soul? Alice Cooper was one of the most notorious “shock rockers” in America. Known for his heavy metal concerts, he was infamous for stage acts too horrific for me to describe. He was also known for his years of alcoholism and heavy drug use. A few years ago, Fox News carried a story that caught my eye: “Alice Cooper believes his faith saved him from alcoholism, temptations of rock star lifestyle.” It turns out Cooper is the son and grandson of ministers. When he nearly died from drugs and alcohol, he says, “I grew up in the church, went as far away as I could from it—almost died—and then came back to the church.” He says that his faith saved his life and is the basis for his long-lasting marriage. He’s not the only surprising story of conversion in our day. David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam” murderer and devil worshipper, is a sold-out Christian who ministers to his fellow prisoners. Dr. Francis Collins is director of the National Institutes of Health and arguably the best-known scientist in America today. He was a staunch atheist before C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity helped lead him to faith in Jesus. Lee Strobel graduated from Yale Law School and worked as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune for fourteen years. A staunch atheist, he was shocked when his wife became a Christian. Investigating her faith, he became a Christian. He has since published the bestsellers The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and The Case for the Real Jesus. His life story has been made into a movie. Here’s my point: If Jesus could change Alice Cooper and David Berkowitz and Francis Collins and Lee Strobel, what can the risen Christ do in your life today? Because of Easter, Thomas called Jesus “my Lord and my God.” Because of the resurrection, we all can.
Easter is about you and me
Romans 5:8 is clear: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were sinners. Not because we were good enough for God, but because we were not. He didn’t die for us because we deserved it, but because we did not. He loves us simply because he is love. And nothing you can ever do will change that. We don’t have to be good to come to Jesus. Because Jesus is good, he has come for us. His excruciating, tortured death proves that it is so. Right now, realize that God wanted you to exist. And Jesus made you (Colossians 1:16), all the while knowing that you would sin and cause him his crown in heaven. Realize that you are loved that much. What have you done for which you’re ashamed today? What failures, what sins, what mistakes? What causes you to think you’re not important, that you don’t matter, that your life isn’t significant? Jesus died for all of that, just for you.
Today, decide that you will see yourself through the lens of Easter as God sees you: as a person of infinite worth. Not because of what you own, do, or look like, but because God loves you.
What do you think of others? Of the people seated around you? Of your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers? Every person you see right now and every person you will ever know is someone Jesus chose to make, knowing that he would die for him or her one day. Every one. The next time you are at odds with someone, remember what Jesus thinks of them. And decide he’s right. In the hymn “The Love of God,” F. M. Lehman wrote these wonderful poetic words about our theme today:
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And rescued from his sin.
But the best words to the song are the fourth stanza, written not by a famous poet but found on the walls of a mental asylum. Before the man who lived there died, he somehow came to know God’s love for him. To realize that Jesus valued him enough that he would give up his crown for that man’s cross. And ours. And so he wrote:
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
That’s what Easter says about us.
Notes: Details on the history of the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, and Easter events were adapted from “Easter Symbols and Traditions” at History.com.
That the fourth stanza of “The Love of God” was found on the walls of a mental asylum is recounted at https://hymnary.org/text/the_love_of_god_is_greater_far.