Our home is decorated with lambs for Easter because our Savior is the Lamb of God. Jesus said the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18-19). Before God lovingly sacrificed His Son, people repeatedly sacrificed everything from lambs to birds or grain, hoping to somehow reduce the weight of their sins. But it didn’t work—their sins kept them trapped in an ongoing cycle of bondage.

Demonstrating extravagant love for all people, God’s Son died so our sin would no longer be a barrier between us and God. Indifferent and insensitive to God’s extravagant plan to redeem humankind, religious leaders referred to Jesus as demon-possessed and insane (see John 10:20). But Jesus was mentally sound and fully aware of what He was doing when He willingly gave His life for us: But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ (Galatians 4:4-6).

While Jesus hung on a crude Roman cross, God the Father and Son were separated, and the full weight of our sin—from things we’ve done to our attitudes of stubborn self-will, indifference, or independence—was transferred from us to Jesus.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16, 17).

On Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ death on the cross, and on Easter we celebrate the fact of His resurrection from the dead. If He’d stayed in the tomb, we would have no reason to celebrate. All other leaders of the world’s religions stayed dead when they died, but JESUS is alive! He is your living Savior! Christianity is not a mere religion; it’s an eternal relationship with the living, loving God. And one of the elders said to me, Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals (Revelation 5:5).

Do you know Jesus? He alone is worthy of your life. He alone provides lasting hope and peace that passes understanding. If you believe in Him, He will give you eternal life. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).

Because of Easter, we can experience God’s intimate, unfailing love. Jesus’ sacrifice opened the door for us to have a relationship with His Father, God. He even provided the Holy Spirit to give us the power to live a new life. Jesus said, I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever,  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).

Happy Easter!  Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!