Jesus died and rose again | Good Friday and Easter

Easter, the festival of spring, of cheerful yellow colors, chocolate eggs, and the Easter Bunny. We enjoy a few days off and the first warm rays of sunshine on our winter skin. But is that what Christians celebrate at Easter? And what does Good Friday actually have to do with it? And why is that Friday actually called ‘good’?

THE PURPOSE OF JESUS' COMING 

We read that at Christmas the birth of Jesus is celebrated. He came to this earth to save people and to honor His heavenly Father. Jesus became human, but remained God.  

FOLLOWING JESUS 

During His life on earth, Jesus performed miracles: He healed the sick, opened blind eyes, and delivered people from occult powers. He also taught and spoke with deep wisdom. He was moved with compassion for people, sought them out, and called them to follow Him. He made no distinction between honest or dishonest, between poor or rich. Corrupt officials, the lonely, prostitutes, fishermen, parents, children, soldiers: He welcomed them and ate with them. In this way, He showed who God is and revealed Himself as the promised Son, the Savior. 

GOOD FRIDAY 

But that was not all. Living a perfect life was not enough to redeem humanity from sin after the fall. Jesus, though sinless, still had to die; that was the condition in the agreement between God and man. He could not overlook sin. The Bible says:
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

On Good Friday, Jesus—innocent—was sentenced to the most cursed death: the cross! And although He had the power to free Himself, He did not. He wanted to give His life. That is why He had come into the world. That is why He even prayed on the cross for forgiveness for His murderers. In the end, His last words were: ‘It is finished.’ With that He said: ‘Father, I have done what You asked. I have lived a sinless life to Your glory and given My life. I have borne the punishment for sin, to redeem many from it!’ 

While Jesus died on the cross, the Jewish people were preparing for the Passover (Pesach). For centuries, during this feast, they celebrated the deliverance from Egypt, where they had been treated as slaves for 400 years. And it was precisely during this Passover that something special happened! 

EASTER 

For after Jesus had been in the grave for three days, He rose from the dead. God the Father raised Him as proof that the sacrifice His Son had made—His life—was sufficient. With this, the way back to God was opened. That is Easter! God’s Son risen from the dead, as the Victor! Through this, people can be freed from the power of evil and sin. For Jesus Himself said: 

John 11:25-26
I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?

Read more about Ascension and Pentecost.