E aster is not for the Christian (that is, the Church or believers). It is for the world. That is, the dead and the lost (as they are referred to as in Luke 15). John 3:16-17 clearly states that ‘God so loved the world that He gave Jesus Christ to the same to deliver eternal life, and He sent Him to save (not condemn) the world’.
Luke 15 New International Version (NIV)
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Read Remainder of Chapter 15
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t search for 1 sheep that is lost out of a 100 of them. This is because I would still have 99 sheep remaining. Similarly, I wouldn’t search for a 1 shilling that is lost out of 10. I would still have 9 left. Yet, the Shepherd looked for the 1 lost sheep while the Woman carefully searched for the 1 lost coin until they found them.
When the Prodigal Son took his inheritance and departed from his father, he was considered to be dead and lost. Thus, when he returned, his father organised a celebration.
Why a celebration? Because the Prodigal Son’s actions represented a separation from God. A separation which was occasioned by sin (1 John 3:4). And the wages of sin is (spiritual) death (Romans 6:23). In other words, the Prodigal Son lived according to the flesh which created enmity with God (Romans 8:5-8 and James 4:4).
Death that was without power before Adam’s disobedience, gained power after his disobedience to God’s Word (Will) (Genesis 2:15-3:24). And since God is faithful to His Word, which He has exalted over His Name (Psalm 138:2), He had to allow death to exercise power over Adam and his lineage (Romans 3:23). He also put in a place a solid plan to deal with sin and death hands-on (Romans 5:6-20 and 8:1-4).
Therefore, Easter is a commemoration of God dealing with sin and death once and for all. God achieved this through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary. This is what makes Easter to be for the world.
It is a time that reminds the Christian of his/her responsibility with regard to the Great Commission. It is also a time to take stock of the commitment to spreading the message of God’s excess love to the world. The harvest is always plenty!
