Bible Verses to Celebrate Easter

For Christian throughout the world Easter is a time of celebration as we remember the redemptive work of Jesus Christ at his crucifixion and his triumphant victory over death Easter morning. There are a number of inspirational Bible verses for the Easter holiday. The ones listed in this article are some of my favorite.

Matthew 26:39 going a little farther, he fell on his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Just before Jesus was arrested in a place called Gethsemane he went there to pray knowing that his time was near when he would be crucified. This burden weighted heavily on Jesus. He prayed the prayer in Matthew 26:39 to God the Father to lift this burden from him if possible but yet Jesus subjected his will not to himself but to the will of God the Father. Had Jesus not been willing to die for our sins there would have been no crucifixion and there would have been no Easter. Consequently, there would be no forgiveness of sins and no hope for mankind. Whenever I read this Bible verse it always reminds me that the will of God always supersedes my own will and desires.

John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

As Jesus hang on the cross just before he died he uttered these last three words "It is finished". What is the significance of Jesus saying these words just before he died? The significance of these words is that the redemptive work of Jesus, the reason that he came to this planet, was complete. What this means for every Christian is that Jesus Christ has already paid the price for our salvation. There is nothing more that you and I can do to atone for our sins. The good news is that Jesus has already paid that price. Our only responsibility is to freely receive gift of salvation by believing that Jesus died for our sins and surrendering our will and desires to Jesus; Just as Jesus surrendered his will to God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Matthew 28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

On Easter morning Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus, went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried after his crucifixion and found that the tomb was empty. An angel of God spoke the words in Matthew 28:6 to Mary. This is the essence of Easter; the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The crucifixion represented the redemptive work of Jesus for our sins. Easter is where Jesus triumphed over death and gave Christians the same assurance that we too can triumph over death. Christians no longer have to fear death because death and the grave have been defeated by Jesus Christ. Christians have the assurance of eternal life with God the Father through belief in Jesus Christ. A few years ago I had a close relative who passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. It was a very difficult time in my life and family's life. We knew that the cancer was terminal but this Bible verse helped me endure the pain of losing a loved one because I knew her dying was not the end but only the beginning. I will see her again because of what Jesus accomplished at Easter.

John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

After Jesus rose from the dead he appeared to several of his disciples. One of Jesus disciples, a man named Thomas, refused to believe that Jesus had risen and said that unless he could see him and touch his wounds he would not believe. Thomas, along with the other disciples, was in a house when Jesus appeared to him. Jesus allowed Thomas to reach out and touch his wounds and Thomas believed. Jesus then spoke those words in John 20:29. There are many today, just like Thomas, who does not believe because they have not seen. This Bible verse gives me hope because the Bible says that we should walk by faith and not by sight and blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Matthew 28:18-19 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Before Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right of God the Father he gave one more mandate to his followers; to tell everyone the news goods of what Jesus had accomplished. Jesus Christ has completed all the work that he needed to do here on earth but there is still work to be done by the followers of Jesus to spread the good news of salvation in Christ. That resonates with me because I cannot be satisfied in my own salvation when there are so many people who are hurting and have not had the opportunity to receive Christ. That motivates me to wake up every morning knowing my job is to be a blessing to someone and to love as Christ loves us.