DivineInsight: Easter reflections: Celebrating Jesus' life, death, and resurrection

By Humphrey Mtandwa | Mar. 31, 2024

The second part of 1 Timothy 3:16 then says, 'God was manifest in the flesh,' showing the importance of understanding his humanity.

The story of Jesus Christ is told in the Scriptures so perfectly in The Book of 1 Timothy 3:16 when it says, 'Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.' No one contests if Jesus existed because even historians have proved the existence of Jesus Christ. But what is mostly commonly contested is his divinity, not his humanity.

But Jesus' purpose could only be achieved if he put on the flesh just as us men, so when he came, he wanted to prove to us his humanity because for him to be the perfect sacrifice of sin, he had to be human. But he also had to be divine. So Jesus Christ was 100% God and 100% man.

Now, when you are looking at the Scriptures, especially in understanding what Easter is, Easter is a celebration of the death, the burial, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everybody dies, but what was unique about Jesus' death was it was the death of an innocent man dying for the sins of the world.

Then this question arises: What did Jesus Christ achieve from his death? When Adam sinned, we as men began to inherit nature, and that nature is called the nature of sin. Now, when Jesus Christ died, he dealt with that nature on the cross because he exchanged his divine life for this sinful nature. Jesus put on the flesh in order to redeem us from the grip of death itself.

The second part of 1 Timothy 3:16 then says, 'God was manifest in the flesh,' showing the importance of understanding his humanity. Paul, when writing this specific Scripture, highlights the key moments of Jesus' walk on earth even until his glorification.

Now the Bible speaks again in Romans 5:17, 'For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.' Because of one man, the world was put into turmoil; the state of the world we see now was never God's intention when he created us. So his manifestation in the flesh was to restore that balance, but he then caused this new life to only be translated through choice and believing in his sacrifice.

So the essence of what Easter is; a celebration of this new life that we have through Christ Jesus. Now, I love the last part of 1 Timothy when it says 'received into glory.' So Jesus Christ was received into glory. When Mary met Jesus by the tomb, she wanted to touch him, but he would not allow her because he had not presented his sacrifice before the Father (God).

So the most beautiful thing about Easter, the story of Jesus Christ and how through that story we received a new life, and not like the old life but a glorious life. This Easter let us celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no formula to celebrate him, but how one celebrates often depends on your personal preference. Some of you have been in church, some went to visit family, but it's a time of joy and reflection, with the central focus on Jesus Christ and his profound sacrifice. Happy Resurrection Sunday! Arise anew with him today. God bless you."