Who would do what God did?

Easter is a reminder of God’s greatest and deepest love and, therefore, it should be the most important period for Humanity, and it can still be for you. Understand how to make this possible;

Easter is expected to generate more than R$3.4 billion this year. According to a projection by the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), the revenue of companies linked to the sector should be 4.5% higher than that recorded in the same period in 2023. The numbers show that Easter is profitable which is why it is one of the most publicised commemorative dates in the trade. Between the months of March and April, chocolate eggs take over the shelves, while the true meaning of Easter tends to go unnoticed.

The word “Easter” has roots in the Hebrew term “Pêssach” and means passage. The event is described for the first time in the second book of the Bible – Exodus – and marks the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery. Before the tenth plague fell on Egypt, God instructed families to separate a male lamb, one year old and without blemish. The animal would serve as food for homes and its blood should be smeared on doorposts so that the firstborn were protected from the angel of death.

Since then, Jews have celebrated Easter in memory of the liberation and new life that the Hebrew people received. “Christianity embraced Easter because this ceremony that took place in Egypt, in fact, pointed to the lamb that God would sacrifice centuries later: His Son”, commented Bishop Renato Cardoso in an episode of the program Intelligence and Faith. “The Lord Jesus He came into the world as a perfect – sinless – lamb, was sacrificed and those who mark their lives with His blood are free from the spirit of death. This is Christian Easter”, added the Bishop.

The death that gave life

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). As we read in the Holy Scriptures, Jesus came to Earth with a single purpose: to save. Thus, his death and resurrection did not happen by chance, but because they were part of God’s plan for Humanity. This would be the only way to free souls from eternal death. Who else would do this?

Man was created in the image and likeness of God, but, despite living in the midst of the perfection of the Garden of Eden, he listened to the devil and began to carry a sinful nature within him. In the Old Testament, God instructed that animals be sacrificed so that people would have their sins forgiven, however this ritual ended after Jesus’ sacrifice in the name of all, recorded in John 1.29: “…Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

When He lived as a man on Earth, Jesus taught and performed countless miracles. Although he came to save everyone, only a few truly believed in Him and had their lives transformed. Many others, however, just took advantage of His power or even ignored His divine essence and crucified Him, which was the way used to punish the most terrible crimes at the time.

Even without sin, his death was preceded by much humiliation and suffering, initiated by the religious people of the time, as it is written in Matthew 27.41-42: “(…) also the chief priests, with the scribes, and elders, and Pharisees, mockingly they said: He saved others, and he cannot save himself”. The episode of Jesus’ death was marked by so much pain that He even said: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Prophesying about that day, Isaiah stated: “The Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, but he did not open his mouth; like a lamb he was led to the slaughter” (53. 7).

But what seemed to be lost to human eyes, with the death of Jesus on the cross, took on another shape when He said: it is finished. There, his delivery resulted in the end of the barriers between God and human beings. “He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us; that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The death of Jesus shook the heavens and the earth, as Bishop Renato observed: “there was an earthquake, the sky darkened and there was thunder. There the covenant with evil was broken and all who believe in Him are free, just as the people of Israel were freed from Egypt.” He also highlights that to have the right to Salvation and this unconditional love of Jesus it is necessary to believe, obey and persevere.

“After leaving Egypt, Pharaoh still persecuted the Hebrew people, who also faced the desert before reaching the Promised Land. Most of the people perished in the desert due to lack of perseverance. This is also the case today. The fact that the Lord Jesus won on the cross does not mean that we will automatically be saved. We will be saved if we believe in Him and continue our journey through this desert until we reach the Promised Land, which will be eternal life.”

The big opportunity

In this way, Easter reminds us that, regardless of the mistakes and pains of the past, it is possible to start over. Whoever believes in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross and in His resurrection has their sins washed away by the blood of the Lamb of God and receives new life. Even if you have heard that your mistake is unforgivable or even if your thoughts tell you that there is no way for you, God promises forgiveness and transformation in the life of those who truly surrender to Jesus.

The Creator did His part – very painful, by the way –, which was to hand over His Son for our sins. Now it is up to each one to take advantage of the opportunity and give their lives to have the right to something much greater: life in eternity with Him.