The Easter message is a message of redemption. Breaking free from slavery, or whatever is holding you captive.
For the Israelites, deliverance meant breaking free from Egypt and relying completely on God for their future.
But getting loose was not an easy step, because the enemy would not let them go. God had to do much to get Pharaoh to release his people.
I am thankful that God never gives up, but does everything to set us free. His plan for our lives is fixed (Jeremiah 29.11), and nothing and no one can change that.
The last act of God to redeem His people involved the ironing of the blood of a lamb on the doorposts and on the lintel of the houses. The only thing through which salvation came was through the blood.
For us Christians, the Easter message points to a greater reality. In the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, God brought the perfect sacrifice that John proclaimed: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
Jesus became the sacrificial lamb offered once and for all for the forgiveness of our sins.
Hebrews 9, 11-12 "Christ, on the other hand, took office as high priest of all that is good to us: he entered through a more impressive and perfect tent - which is not man-made and does not belong to our creation - 12entered the heavenly sanctuary once and for all, and then not with blood of bucks and young bulls but with his own blood. Thus, he has obtained eternal salvation.
Blood means life. It is responsible for transporting everything our body needs, especially oxygen. But the blood that flows through our veins cannot cleanse our souls. It cannot change our sinful nature.
Only the blood of Jesus can do that! In Matthew 26.28 Jesus said as He took the cup: "this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins."
1John 1:7 "But going our way in the light, as he himself is in the light, then his we are connected and cleanses the blood of Jesus, His Son, us from all sin."
Walking in the light means walking in freedom.
The freedom God offers us is an eternal freedom that takes place within us, providing rest and peace.
It is a freedom that cannot be influenced by circumstances, but is rooted in faith, in Jesus, the son of God.
It is a freedom that this world cannot take away from us. It did not come from here and therefore cannot be taken away from us.
It was Jesus who said in John 14.27 "I leave you peace; my peace (my freedom) I give you, such as the world cannot give..."
What Jesus is saying is that the peace He gives is not the same as that of the World. His peace is independent of the World. His peace is an inner peace that is permanent despite what happens in the World!
This is good news! Liberating news!
Liberation from slavery was made possible by the blood of the paschal lamb. Only the blood could provide deliverance.
Galatians 5:1 "Christ set us free that we might live in freedom. So stand firm and do not allow another yoke of slavery to be imposed upon you"
John 8:36 "So when the Son will make you free, you will truly be free."
Let's walk in this freedom today. Let's walk with Jesus!
