Without Easter …

Did you ever think about how the death of Jesus might be viewed if it happened without Easter?

From a purely human standpoint, Jesus’ death might be seen as a tragedy. Obviously, Jesus was a gifted Man. He lacked the formal training that could have made Him great, the world might say, but His native ability was superior. His logic confounded the scholars. His intellect silenced His critics. His magnetism captivated the crowds. His energy carried Him to the corners of Israel and beyond. Everywhere He went, people flocked to see and hear this blue-collar wanderer who walked among them as if He owned the world.

But here was Jesus hanging on a cross. His words had been too biting for some, His popularity too great. Jesus crossed powerful people one too many times. Now He was paying the price.

Only 33 years old. Imagine all He might have done had His life not been cut short by the cross, the world might reason. What a waste! Such might have been the view without Easter.

From an ethical viewpoint, Jesus’ death might be seen as another example of a righteous man dying unjustly. It had happened before. It would again. Didn’t Socrates drink poison rather than give in to the pettiness of the Greek court? Jesus of Nazareth was just another unfortunate example that being right is not always enough.

Jesus did nothing wrong or criminal. The Roman governor said so. Sure, He challenged some of the religious practices of His day, but they needed challenging. Sometimes He aimed strong words at the religious office holders. Remember when He said their actions were as putrid as the white stones rolled in front of the caves where people were buried?

But His words could be so comforting. Remember when He taught that the poor in spirit shall inherit the Kingdom of God and that those who mourn shall be comforted?

Jesus went about doing good. He fed the hungry and befriended the friendless. He spent time with the outcasts and guided them toward God. No one before Him ever referred to the Creator God as Father, like Jesus did.

He was a righteous man, the world might say. He should not be hanging on a cross. But there He was. A man like Jesus put to death for no justifiable reason. What a tragedy without Easter.

From a political standpoint, Jesus’ death shows that manipulation and intrigue can work. Bribery helped get Jesus arrested. Lies and distortions incited the crowd against Him. Political threats forced the Romans to kill Him. It was a deadly serious scheme and it worked — without Easter.

Without Easter the cross is merely a cruel instrument of execution. It is a sign that might makes right, that power always wins.

Jesus may not have deserved to die, but once Roman power made a decision nothing else mattered. The crosses prove it. There they stand alongside the road so passersby will see the life-and-death power of Rome. The crosses symbolize death. That is why the place where they stand is called Golgotha, the place of the skull.

That is the view without Easter.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). The Bible teaches that early on Sunday morning following Jesus’ death, Easter happened. The power of God the Father raised Jesus to new life, and His resurrection changed history.

One scholar wrote, “The distinctive attribute of apostolic Christianity was … the supernatural power of the living God, manifested historically by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.”

Easter transformed Jesus’ death from a human tragedy to a miraculous victory. Death, the last enemy, was overcome. Jesus promised, “He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies” (John 11:25). As Christ was raised from the dead, so shall all who believe in Him be raised. The mortal shall put on immortality. The corrupt will be replaced by the incorruptible. A new body like that of the risen Lord, a new body fit for an eternity in heaven, awaits the believer because Easter happened.

Because Easter happened, Jesus’ death was far more than a righteous man dying an unjust death. It was the righteous dying for the unrighteous. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

In other words, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus fulfilled the law of God. He paid the price for the sin of all who believe on His name. He died and arose again for us.

Easter branded as a lie the argument that manipulation and intrigue took Jesus’ life. “No man takes my life,” Jesus said. He alone had the power to lay down His life. Jesus also said He could and would take up His life again.

On the cross a thief dying with Him tried to browbeat Jesus into using His power to save the three sentenced to death. Jesus could have called 10,000 angels had He chosen. But He did not. Instead, He died for you and me.

Yes, there was intrigue and manipulation, but those smug, self-satisfied conspirators had no idea how God was working amid the evil they intended in order to provide salvation to the world. Jesus died and arose again on Easter morning to give believers hope for today and for eternity.

The cross? It is a crude and cruel executioner’s tool. But Easter even gave the cross new meaning. Easter showed the cross is a symbol of God’s love. God loved us so much that Jesus became “obedient even unto death on the cross” for us. Easter made the cross a symbol of hope. The cross is empty because Jesus is not there. He has been raised.

Without Easter, Jesus’ death is a dark tragedy. But through the lens of Easter morning, Jesus’ death is victory over death and victory for all who believe on His name.

Yes, Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed!