New Beginnings
Easter is a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after His suffering and death. Before Jesus died on the Cross, He suffered a violent and unimaginable death. The Bible says that “…His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness…” Isaiah 52:14:
💔 He was beaten, bloodied, and broken. The Roman whips weren’t just leather. They were laced with sharp bone and metal, tearing through His back with every strike. Flesh hung like ribbons. Blood poured like rivers.
💥 They struck His face—again and again. His nose was broken. His eyes were swollen. His beard ripped out by angry men. His face was deformed beyond recognition.
👑 They mocked Him with a crown of thorns. Pressed deep into His scalp. Blood ran down His temples. Pain surged through nerve-rich skin.
🚶♂️ They made Him carry His own cross. Each step—a collapse. Each breath—a gasp. Muscles torn, bones likely exposed, skin shredded from scourging.
✝️ And then came the nails. Through wrists and feet. Piercing flesh. Splintered wood. Unbearable pain. His body hung, twisted. His death? Due to suffocation. Isaiah 52:14: “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man…”
🩸 This was love—in its rawest, most sacrificial form.
The Bible says that “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering…He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” Isaiah 53:3.
But here’s the thing: “…He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed…the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
What made His death so great was the fact that when He died, the sins of the whole world were laid on Him. He did not die one death, but a death for the sins of billions. Romans 5:6-8:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
BUT Acts 1:3 says that “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
Jesus died and then conquered death and hell and the grave. He rose from the dead! THAT is the basis for Christianity. Without that, we have no faith 1 Corinthians 15:14-20 Without The Resurrection of Christ:
🙁 Our Faith Is Useless,
🙁Christians Are Deceived and Deceivers,
🙁There Is No Forgiveness Of Sin or Eternal Life,
🙁Christians Are To Be Pitied Above All People
I Corinthians 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…!”
In the Resurrection, there is always New Beginnings:
❤️Romans 6:4 “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ
was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
❤️2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
❤️Revelation 21:5 “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
New Beginnings in The Resurrection:
1. The Stones Are
Mark 16:1-6 The Resurrection of Jesus Rolls The Stones Away:
Stones of Fear - I John 4:17,18,
Stones of Depression - John 10:10,
Stones of Captivity – John 8:30-32,
Stones of Insecurity - I Peter 1:18-19.
New Beginnings In The Resurrection: The Saved Can Have Their Stones Rolled Away!
2. The Fallen Are
Mark.16:6,7 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter…”
Hosea 14:1-4 “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall…I will heal their backsliding and love them freely…” The promise is to all who have strayed, and stumble is that we can return to Him. He will forgive our sin. He will heal our backsliding. He will love us freely. Strays can come home!
New Beginnings In The Resurrection: Strays Can Be Restored!
3. The Lost Are
Mark.16:15-16 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
New Beginnings means exactly that: Today can be a New Beginning for you to find Christ, follow Him, and secure your eternity. I Corinthians 15:1-8 tells us how simple it is:
❤️Believe That Jesus Died For Your Sins,
❤️Believe That He Was Buried,
❤️Believe That He Rose From The Dead
❤️Allow Him To Come Into Your Heart “He appeared to me”
New Beginnings In The Resurrection: Seekers Can Be Found!