The Significance of Easter Celebration.

We celebrate Easter because it commemorates

the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians

believe that Jesus was killed by crucifixion on

a Friday and then actually came back to life

on the following Sunday.

Some may ask, “So what?” Why is it important

that Jesus rose from the dead?

There are many answers to that question,

including the fact that Jesus predicted this

miracle ahead of time as proof that he is the

Son of God. But today I want to highlight a

passage from 1 Cor. 15

where the apostle Paul explains why the

resurrection is important to believers in a very

practical way.

"But if it is preached that Christ

has been raised from the dead,

how can some of you say that

there is no resurrection of the

dead? If there is no resurrection

of the dead, then not even Christ

has been raised. And if Christ

has not been raised, our

preaching is useless and so is

your faith. More than that, we

are then found to be false

witnesses about God, for we

have testified about God that he

raised Christ from the dead. But

he did not raise him if in fact the

dead are not raised. For if the

dead are not raised, then Christ

has not been raised either. And if

Christ has not been raised, your

faith is futile; you are still in your

sins. Then those also who have

fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If

only for this life we have hope in

Christ, we are to be pitied more

than all men (1 Cor. 15:12-19)."

Christ’s resurrection is the central teaching of

Christianity. According to Paul, if he wasn’t

resurrected, then Christianity is a complete

sham; all who believe in Christ for salvation are

still in their sins and to be pitied if Christ was

not raised.

For those of us who are believers, the

resurrection is extremely important. If Christ

was not raised, we have no hope.

But Paul does not leave us hanging. In verse

20, he makes clear what really occurred: “But

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,

the firstfruits of those who have fallen

asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).

Paul concludes his treatment of the

resurrection with these words: “Death has

been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54).

The resurrection of Christ is the ultimate

reassurance to all believers that death has

finally been defeated. We will all be

resurrected, just as Christ. Once you

understand that Easter is a celebration of the

defeat of death , you will finally understand why

we celebrate this holy day.

Thanks be to God for a risen Savior!