EASTER 2024
WHY SHOULD EASTER MATTER TO ME?
GENESIS 3:1–7 NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY OF THE WILD ANIMALS THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, “DID GOD REALLY SAY, ‘YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN’?” 2THE WOMAN SAID TO THE SERPENT, “WE MAY EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN THE GARDEN, 3BUT GOD DID SAY, ‘YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE.’ ” 4“YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE,” THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN. 5“FOR GOD KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT OF IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL.” 6WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT. 7THEN THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY REALIZED THEY WERE NAKED; SO THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES.
INTRODUCTION: I GUESS YOU HAVE PROBABLY NOTICED THAT EASTER SEEMS TO BE PRETTY EARLY THIS YEAR. WE NORMALLY EXPECT EASTER TO COME IN THE MONTH OF APRIL AND NOT MARCH. MANY FOLKS THINK THAT THE DATE OF EASTER IS LINKED TO THE PASSOVER MEAL. THAT WOULD BE INCORRECT. THE ASSOCIATION OF EASTER AND THE PASSOVER HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT JESUS WAS JEWISH. YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT IT WAS AFTER THE PASSOVER MEAL THAT JESUS CELEBRATED WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND ALSO INSTITUTED COMMUNION THAT HE WOULD SOON FACE HIS ARREST, QUESTIONING, TRIAL, AND CRUCIFIXION.
THE SATE OF EASTER IS RATHER TIED TO THE LUNAR CALENDAR. THE EASTER DATE IS ALWAYS THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE FIRST FULL MOON THAT FALLS ON OR AFTER MARCH 21. MEANING THAT EASTER CAN FALL AS EARLY AS EARLY AS MARCH 22ND AND AS LATE AS APRIL 21ST.
THIS MORNING, OUR CONCERN IS NOT WHEN EASTER FALLS, BUT WHY DOES EASTER MATTER TO ME, OR YOU ANYWAY.
IN ORDER TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, WE NEED TO TURN THE PAGES OF OUR BIBLE BACK TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS, CHAPTER 3 AND THE FIRST SEVEN VERSES. IT IS HERE MANKIND IS INTRODUCED TO SIN. AND WITH THE ENTRANCE OF SIN, THE NEED FOR EASTER BECOMES REAL AND FOR THE SAKE OF OUR ETERNITY, EASTER SHOULD MATTER TO US.
I. THE CHARACTERS OF GENESIS 3
a. ADAM
i. ADAM WAS CREATED BY GOD
ii. INFUSED WITH THE LIKENESS AND IMAGE OF GOD
iii. HE WAS GIVEN DOMINION OVER ALL THE EARTH
iv. HE WAS INNOCENT AND WITHOUT SIN
v. HE WAS NAKED AND UNASHAMED
vi. HE HAD THE CAPACITY TO CHOOSE
b. EVE
i. SHE WAS CREATED FROM – OUT OF ADAM
ii. SHE WAS GOD’S ANSWER TO THE FIRST CRISIS IN THE BIBLE – IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE
iii. SHE WAS INNOCENT
iv. SHE WAS NAKED AND UNASHAMED
v. SHE HAD THE CAPACITY TO CHOOSE
c. THE SERPENT
i. COMES ON THE SCENE WITHOUT INTRODUCTION
ii. THE SERPENT WAS CREATED BY GOD
iii. THE SERPENT WAS SUBJECT TO MAN
iv. THE SERPENT HAD THE DISTINCTION OF BEING CRAFTIER THAN ANY OF GOD’S OTHER CREATION – A CLASS BY HIMSELF
v. ALTHOUGH NOT MENTIONED HERE, JOHN IN THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION WOULD IDENTIFY THE SERPENT AS SATAN
II. THE CONFLICT IN EDEN
a. THE ROOTS GO BACK TO THE REBELLION OF SATAN HIMSELF
i. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS THE SMARTEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL OF GOD’S CREATION HE WANTED MORE.
1. THE WORD FOR SERPENT MEANS SHINNING UPRIGHT CREATURE. BEFORE THE FALL SERPENTS WALKED UPRIGHT
2. THE SERPENT COULD TALK, NOT UNLIKE BALAAM’S DONKEY WHEN THE ANGEL SPOKE THROUGH IT
ii. HE WANTED TO BE LIKE GOD AND TO BE GOD
1. HE WAS TO BE THE REFLECTION OF GOD’S GLORY. HE WAS NOT CONTENT WITH THIS
2. HE WANTED TO SIT ON GOD’S THRONE
3. HE WANTED TO OCCUPY GOD’S PLACE
iii. WICKEDNESS WAS FOUND IN IS HEART
1. HIS DESIRE TO BE USURP THE POSITION OF GOD WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT BE IGNORED
2. HE WAS CAST OUT OF HEAVEN
iv. THE GOAL OF SATAN IS REBELLION IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND IT BEGINS WITH GOD’S FIRST CREATION
b. THE POINT OF ATTACK IS EVE
i. SATAN APPROACHES HERE “CRAFTY
1. THE WORD IS OFTEN TRANSLATED CUNNING
2. HAS A MUCH MORE POWERFUL MEANING – THE ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING THAT STOPS SHORT OF NO MEASURE, HOWEVER REPREHENSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH ITS PURPOSE
3. THE GOAL OF SATAN AND THE FALL OF MAN WERE CENTERED AROUND THE DESIRE OF SATAN TO CHALLENGE GOD’S AUTHORITY AND TO ELEVATE HIS OWN POSITION
a. HIS FOCUS WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE INNOCENCE OF ADAM AND EVE
b. ADAM AND EVE AT THIS POINT WERE INNOCENT BUT NOT RIGHTEOUS. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS INNOCENCE THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE PRESENCE OF TEMPTATION
c. SATAN SOUGHT TO ATTACK THE INNOCENCE OF MAN AND THEREFORE REMOVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
4. THE FOCUS WAS THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
a. IT WAS FORBIDDEN TO EAT OF THIS TREE.
b. ADAM AND EVE WERE PERMITTED TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE, BUT NOT THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL
c. GENESIS 3:22 AND THE LORD GOD SAID, “THE MAN HAS NOW BECOME LIKE ONE OF US, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. HE MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO REACH OUT HIS HAND AND TAKE ALSO FROM THE TREE OF LIFE AND EAT, AND LIVE FOREVER.”
i. IT WOULD SEEM THAT ADAM AND EVE HAD NOT EATEN OF THIS TREE YET, AND AS SUCH GOD PREVENTED THEM FROM EATING OF IT AND IN DOING SO LIVE FOREVER IN THEIR SIN.
d. LATER IN REVELATION 22, WITH THE COMING OF A NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH AND THE DEFEAT OF SATAN THAT THE TREE OF LIFE RETURNS WITH NO CURSE, IT IS FREE TO EAT FROM.
JUST AN INTERESTING SIDE NOTE – WE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT TEMPTATION OFTEN COMES IN DISGUISE – SATAN WAS DISGUISED AS A SERPENT. ALSO, TEMPTATION OFTEN COMES FROM SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE DOMINION OVER. ADAM AND EVE WERE GIVEN DOMINION OVER ALL OF GOD’S CREATION
ii. THE METHOD OF ATTACK—DOUBT
1. THE RESULT OF DOUBT – IN THE PRESENCE OF DOUBT COMES FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND HESITANCY.
2. IN THIS INCIDENT IT REFERS TO GOD’S WORD
WHEN WE DOUBT GOD’S WORD, WE TEND TO TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS. DOUBTING GOD’S WORD IS A CHECK MARK IN THE WIN COLUMN FOR THE DEVIL.
iii. THE PLAN OF THE ATTACK – QUESTION THE MOTIVES OF GOD
1. WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEE IN THE TEXT IS THAT ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THE SERPENT/DEVIL TO SPEAK TWICE
a. ONCE PLANTED DOUBT TAKES ROOT AND GROWS QUICKLY
b. IT CAN KNOCK US OFF OUR SPIRITUAL GAME QUICKLY AS WELL
2. THE SERPENT QUESTIONS WHAT GOD ACTUALLY SAID
a. THE CHOICE OF WORDS ARE SIGNIFICANT:
GENESIS 3:3 BUT GOD DID SAY, ‘YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE.’ ”
GENESIS 2:16–17 AND THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, “YOU ARE FREE TO EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN; 17BUT YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, FOR WHEN YOU EAT OF IT YOU WILL SURELY DIE.”
b. WHAT SATAN DID WAS TURN THE POSITIVE INVITATION OF GOD – YOU CAN EAT FROM EVERY TREE WITH ONLY ONE EXCEPTION
c. INTO A NEGATIVE PROHIBITION THAT GOD DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL THE BEST HE HAS TO OFFER.
3. THE REPLY OF EVE IS CORRECT UNTIL SHE GOES TOO FAR AND ADDS TO GOD’S WORD
a. SATAN TAKES THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS ERROR TO HIS ADVANTAGE.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT SATAN USED THE SAME TACTICS ON JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS THAT HE USED ON EVE IN THE GARDEN.
SATAN’S TEMPTATIONS OF EVE AND OF JESUS
TEMPTATION
APPEAL TO PHYSICAL APPETITE – EAT OF ANY TREE/BRED
APPEAL TO PERSONAL GAIN – WILL NOT DIE/HURT YOUR FOOT
APPEAL TO POWER OR GLORY – BE LIKE GOD/ALL THE KINGDOMS
THE KEY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT JESUS KNEW THE WORD OF GOD PRECISELY REGARDING EACH TEMPTATION
i. ALL SATAN DID WAS ALTER GOD’S WORD, AND THIS SET THE HOOK
b. SATAN GIVES AND OUTRIGHT DENIAL OF GOD’S WORD, YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL
i. CAN GOD BE TRUSTED AND DOES HE SPEAK THE TRUTH
iv. EVE THEN DOES THE REST
1. THE TREE LOOKS GOOD TO EAT
2. THE TREE IS A BEAUTIFUL TREE
3. THE TREE WOULD GIVE ME WHAT I DO NOT HAVE – THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
1 JOHN 2:16 FOR EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD—THE CRAVINGS OF SINFUL MAN, THE LUST OF HIS EYES AND THE BOASTING OF WHAT HE HAS AND DOES—COMES NOT FROM THE FATHER BUT FROM THE WORLD. NIV
1 JOHN 2:16 “FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD.” KJV
THE MOMENT EVE REACHES OUT AND TAKES THE FRUIT, EATS AND GIVES IT TO ADAM THEY HAVE LOST THEIR INNOCENCE AND THE OPPORTUNITY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
OUR TEXT TELLS US THAT THEY THEN SOW FIG LEAVES TO HIDE THEIR NAKEDNESS
BEYOND OUR TEXT WE FIND THAT THEY HID FROM GOD, SHIFT THE BLAME FOR THEIR DISOBEDIENCE AND NEVER ADMITTED THEIR SIN
THEY WERE CAST OUT OF THE GARDEN WITH A PROMISE: AND I WILL PUT ENMITY
BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN,
AND BETWEEN YOUR OFFSPRING AND HERS;
HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD,
AND YOU WILL STRIKE HIS HEEL.”
THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST PROPHECY OF THE COMING OF CHRIST
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE QUESTION OF THE DAY:
III. WHY SHOULD EASTER MATTER TO ME?
a. IT SHOULD MATTER BECAUSE GOD PREDICTED IT IN GENESIS. EASTER WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT GOD WANTED US TO KNOW THAT THE REMEDY FOR SIN WAS COMING.
b. IT SHOULD MATTER BECAUSE WITHOUT THE RESULTS OF EASTER, MAN WOULD REMAIN FALLEN AND SEPARATED FROM GOD
c. IT SHOULD MATTER BECAUSE WITHOUT EASTER SATAN WON
d. IT SHOULD MATTER BECAUSE WITHOUT EASTER, WE HAVE NO WAY TO RETURN TO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
e. IT SHOULD MATTER, BECAUSE WITHOUT EASTER, YOU AND I WOULD NEVER KNOW THE EXTENT OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US.
f. IT SHOULD MATTER BECAUSE WITHOUT EASTER THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO SAVE US FROM OUR SIN AND ASSURE US OF HEAVEN
FATHER TIME MET PALE KING DEATH SITTIN' BY A TOMB.
"HELLO, OLD FRIEND, I GUESS YOU'RE HERE TO SEAL SOMEBODY'S DOOM."
"YOU MIGHT SAY THAT," SLY DEATH REPLIED. A SMILE SLID UP HIS FACE.
"INSIDE REPOSES THAT JESUS MAN WHO SAID HE'S SAVE THE RACE?
"AND YOU, TIME, WHY YOU STOPPIN' HERE? DON'T YOU HAVE THINGS TO DO?"
"I COME EACH DAY TO DRAW THE VEIL AND LET THE MORNIN' THROUGH.
"SAY, WHY YOU WATCHIN' JUS' ONE GRAVE, WITH ALL YOUR VAST DOMAIN?
LOOKS LIKE YOU'D BE OUT RAMBLIN' 'ROUND AND SMITIN' FOLKS WITH PAIN."
"WELL, THIS ONE'S SOMETHIN' SPECIAL. HE CHALLENGED ME, THEY SAY.
SAID HE'S REST HERE JUST THREE DAYS THEN STIR AND WALK AWAY.
"NOW I'M THE CONQUEROR YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T TALK UP TO ME.
WHEN I STEPS IN TO CUT 'EM DOWN IT'S FOR ETERNITY."
"I SURE CAN TESTIFY TO THAT," RESPONDED FATHER TIME.
"I AIN'T SEEN ONE SHAKE OFF THE DUST SINCE YOU BEEN IN YOUR PRIME.
"WELL, I GOT OTHER THINGS TO DO, I MUST BE ON MY WAY.
I'LL SEE YOU WHEN I COME BACK BY TO MAKE ANOTHER DAY."
SO WHISKERED TIME WENT UP THE HILL TO BID THE SUN TO RISE.
HE LEFT DEATH STANDIN' BY THE TOMB LOOKIN' STRONG AN' WISE.
NEXT DAY, TIME AMBLED BY AGAIN, "AND HOW ARE THINGS?" HE QUERIED.
"KINDA QUIET," DEATH REPLIED. "I'M STARTIN' TO BE WEARIED.
"I WON'T BE HERE WHEN YOU COME BY ABOUT THIS TIME TOMORROW.
I'M ANXIOUS TO BE ON MY WAY, AN' SPREAD SOME GRIEF AND SORROW."
NOW FATHER TIME WAS QUITE SURPRISED WHEN HE CAME BACK TO SEE
DEATH A QUIVERIN' ON THE GROUND IN FRIGHTFUL AGONY!
HIS EYES WERE SET, HIS THROAT WAS MARKED, HIS CLOTHES IN DISARRAY.
IT WASN'T DIFFICULT TO SEE THAT DEATH HAD HAD HIS DAY.
"WHAT HAPPENED, DEATH?" ASKED FATHER TIME, "WHAT MAKES YOU LOOK SO BAD?
I'VE NEVER SEE YOU SHAKE THIS WAY OR SEEM SO SCARED AND SAD."
DEATH PULLED HIMSELF UP ON A ROCK A-LOOKIN' SICK AN' HUMBLE.
HUNG HIS HEAD AN' WRUNG HIS HANDS AND TIME COULD HEAR HIM MUMBLE.
"WAS SITTIN' HERE BEFORE THE DAWN ABOUT TO TAKE MY STROLL
WHEN ALL AT ONCE THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD BEGAN TO REEL AND ROLL.
"THAT ROLLIN' STONE JUMPED OFF THE DOOR AN' SKIPPED ON DOWN THE HILL.
THEN EVERYTHING GREW DARK AND QUIET, SEEMED LIKE THE EARTH STOOD STILL.
"I SAW HIM STANDIN' IN THE DOOR, HE DIDN'T MOVE OR SPEAK,
JUST LOOKED AT ME AN' ALL AT ONCE I FELT SO TIRED AND WEAK.
"HE CAME AND GOT A HOLD ON ME, AND THREW ME TO THE GROU'
PUT HIS FOOT HERE ON MY NECK THEN TOOK MY KEYS AN' CROWN.
"TWO ANGELS CAME TO TALK WITH HIM, THEY GLISTENED LIKE THE SUN.
HE SAID, 'THE PLAN'S ALL FINISHED NOW, REDEMPTION'S WORK IS DONE.'
"AS THEY PASSED THE GARDEN GATE I HEARD HIM SAY, JUST THEN,
HE'S SETTIN' FREE MY CAPTIVES AND GIVIN' GIFTS TO MEN."
TIME AND DEATH MET ONCE AGAIN OFF YONDER BY THE GATE.
"IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU," SAID OLD TIME, "I'VE WONDERED 'BOUT YOUR FATE."
"I'M JUST A LOWLY SERVANT NOW, THERE'S LITTLE TIME TO ROAM,
I JUST PUSH OPEN THIS OLD GATE AND HELP THE SAINTS GET HOME!"
WHY SHOULD EASTER MATTER TO YOU? BECAUSE EASTER COMPLETED THE CYCLE AND PROVIDED A WAY FOR MAN TO RETURN TO GOD THROUGH SIMPLE FAITH AND TRUST IN CHRIST.
EASTER IS THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS. FINISHED FOR YOUR SALVATION. FINISHED FOR YOUR ETERNITY IN HEAVEN.
