At the moment the doors swoosh open, row upon row of baskets, synthetic grass, plastic eggs, cards with sweet messages, candy and toys beckon the eye (and, the manager hopes, your check book). This has been the scene at our local ‘super store’ for over a month and probably at yours, too.

In a week or two, or even in a few days, the goodies will be gone, the cheap trinkets broken or forgotten, and life will go on. For many, life will go on with something else missing. They will enjoy the Easter fun, but miss the good news of the Easter message.

And, just what is this good news? The good news of the Easter message is that:

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures…that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Cor 15:3-4).

You’ve probably read or heard that passage before. But how often do we really think about the implications of that statement?

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, bringing the curse of sin upon all mankind, God promised to send a Deliverer (Gen. 3:15). The promise of the Messiah was repeated over and over again. He told Isaiah, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isa. 7:14)

Isaiah also wrote: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53:4-5)

Zechariah also prophesied of this coming Redeemer. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zech. (9:9)

[Remember: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Pet.1:21)]

When Joseph was told “she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins,” (Mt 1:21) he didn’t argue the point. Why not? Joseph knew the scriptures. He knew this was a fulfillment of the promise.

After His resurrection, Jesus walked with 2 men along the road to Emmaus. They expressed confusion and grief over the events surrounding the crucifixion and the claim that He was no longer in the tomb.  Read Jesus’ response carefully.

“O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Lk. 27:25-27)

Later, as Jesus sat at a meal with them, He blessed the bread, shared it with them and “their eyes were opened and they knew him.” He then “vanished from their sight” (v. 30-31). Their eyes were opened to the truth that 
“…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures…that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Cor 15:3-4)

The men realized that He had revealed Himself to them “according to the scriptures,” and said, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Lk.24:27)

Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”

Jesus said, “Search the scriptures… they are they which testify of me.” (Jn. 5:39) To Paul, Jesus said he was being sent out, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)

Later, in a letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, “…thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 3:15)

Galatians 3:22 tells us, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

Romans 10 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (v 9-11)

God promised in His Word that a Redeemer was coming. God kept His promise. The Redeemer came according to the scriptures, has revealed Himself to us according to the scriptures, and, like the 2 men who walked along that Emmaus road, desires that our eyes are opened to know Him according to the scriptures.

This is the Easter Message - according to the Scriptures.