Easter festivities, filled with joy, feasting, and holidays, often eclipse the fundamental significance of the occasion. If you were to ask people about the true meaning of Easter, you might be taken aback by the variety of responses.

Jesus Christ is the Core of Easter.

Let’s delve into why this statement holds true and how it pertains to you as a Christian today.

Who is Christ to You?

- Adam Before The Fall.

Adam was created in the likeness of God, formed from dust, and imbued with divine breath.

> “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 NKJV)

Adam was granted dominion; everything was placed under his authority, which was God's original intent for humanity.

> “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:26 NKJV)

The Spirit of God confirmed through the prophets the dominion intended for man.

> “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” (Hebrews 2:6–8 NKJV)

- Adam After The Fall.

After the fall in Eden, Adam became spiritually dead.

> “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19 NKJV)

Consequently, humanity lost its authority over the earth, and fallen angels seized control. All descendants of Adam became vulnerable to spiritual forces, including Satan.

> “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded...” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NKJV)

- The Burden of Sin.

Humanity inherits the sins and consequences stemming from Adam’s fall, leading to ongoing spiritual oppression.

> “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth...” (Acts 17:26 NKJV)

As newborns, all are subject to sin and its repercussions, explaining why even innocent infants can suffer from serious ailments.

Here are the categories of sin debts we all carry:

Adamic Sinful Nature.

This inherited sinful nature affects all, stemming from Adam.

> “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned — ” (Romans 5:12 NKJV)

Inherited Sins from Ancestors.

We also bear the weight of our ancestors’ sins and their repercussions.

> “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious... visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.’” (Exodus 34:5–7 NKJV)

Self-Acquired and Reacting Sins.

Lastly, we incur sins through our responses to our backgrounds or through fresh sins caused by demonic influences.

This situation leaves humanity in a dire state, with ongoing sin, oppression, and corruption. Many strive to manage these self-acquired sins through various means, yet the inherited and original sins remain beyond our control. Even the most disciplined individuals are still susceptible to spiritual oppression.

Thus, we all require a Savior. Morality alone cannot absolve these sin debts.

> “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 NKJV)

These unpaid sins lead to eternal separation from God. Some face these consequences in life, while others bear them after death.

> “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NKJV)

The good news is that God initiated a plan for humanity's redemption following Adam's fall. He sought a willing heart, found in Abraham, to demonstrate what it means for humanity to reign on Earth, introducing righteousness through the Law.

Through the prophets, God foretold His redemption strategy, promising a new humanity free from inherited sins and darkness, allowing them to reclaim the life Adam lost.

> “who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13 NKJV)

- Jesus Christ, A Unique Being.

Jesus Christ represents a distinct creation—both divine and human.

His miraculous birth was foretold long before it occurred.

> “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV)

When the time came, God fulfilled this prophecy through the Virgin Mary, birthing a unique being—fully God and fully man.

> “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you... that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’” (Luke 1:35 NKJV)

Jesus was born so that anyone could connect with Him, either by lineage (as an Israelite) or through faith (calling on Him as Savior).

> “For whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NKJV)

This means you can become part of Jesus’ lineage and share in His essence, including His atonement for sins, death, resurrection, and the promise of eternal life.

JESUS CHRIST, the Essence of Easter!

- Jesus Christ, My Substitute.

Through faith in Jesus, you become part of Him—a new creation.

> “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12 NKJV)

Whenever a person calls upon the name of Jesus, they are adopted into His family.

> “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NKJV)

While belief in the heart is vital, confession through the mouth is essential for salvation.

> “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10 NKJV)

This leads to becoming a new creation, a hybrid of humanity and Christ.

> “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

Once you accept Jesus, you inherit all that He embodies—His punishment for sin, His death, resurrection, and the promise of eternal life.

> “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27 NKJV)

- Jesus Christ, My Sacrifice.

Through your connection with Christ, you share in His sacrifice for sins, His death, and His resurrection.

Jesus’ sacrifice was complete, as foretold by Isaiah:

> “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities...” (Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV)

By accepting this opportunity for forgiveness, you are liberated from inherited sins and their consequences.

> “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us...” (Galatians 3:13–14 NKJV)

This sacrifice allows you to share in His punishment, resurrection, and the freedom that follows.

> “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3 NKJV)

This leads to liberation from the darkness that plagues the world.

> “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love...” (Colossians 1:13–14 NKJV)

- Jesus Christ, My Inheritance.

As a spiritual relative of Christ, you partake not only in His death and resurrection but also in His righteousness, authority over darkness, and eternal inheritance.

> “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV)

You also gain access to God and share in His authority over life.

> “But God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ...” (Ephesians 2:4–6 NKJV)

- Your Salvation Is Your Call.

Reflecting on the above, one might wonder why many Christians still suffer from ailments and oppression. The answer lies in the fact that, while the opportunity to connect with Christ is available to all, only those who embrace it through faith will experience its benefits.

It is through faith that grace is accessed. The choice to embrace life is yours!

> “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil... choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19 NKJV)

Your fate rests not on your sins, but on your acceptance or rejection of the forgiveness offered in Christ Jesus.

God presents everyone with the choice between life and death—CHOOSE LIFE.

Jesus Christ, the Essence of Easter!

Receiving Jesus through confession is just the beginning; we must also claim our rights in Him through faith. Many suffer due to ignorance, disbelief, or lack of faith.

> “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life...” (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV)

Without faith, we cannot please God.

> “But without faith it is impossible to please Him...” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

May this message inspire and bless you as it has blessed us. Reflect on the incredible nature of Jesus Christ— a being capable of welcoming anyone into His kingdom.

My dear friend, how will you respond to this message?

JESUS CHRIST… The Essence of Easter!

Shalom.

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