Happy Resurrection Sunday! It’s Easter, of course, but since this is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we also like to call it Resurrection Sunday! We’ve been in a series for the past few weeks about the symbols of Easter. We’ve been talking about different symbols that we usually see around Easter and what they mean, and most importantly, where they come from in the Bible.
We began by looking at the symbolism of the Lamb. We saw that in Scripture, particularly when it comes to the Passover and Easter, the Lamb is a symbol of sacrifice and the price that Jesus paid for our sins.
Then we looked at the Cross, the most recognizable of Easter symbols. We can see that even though it was associated with being cursed, Jesus made it a symbol of His VICTORY over sin and death.
Then we looked at the Crown of Thorns. Though usually a crown is associated with royalty, we saw that for Jesus, it was a sign of His humility, that He was willing to surrender His rights as the Son of God to do what the Father asked of Him. To us, we remember that we are also called to have this humility, to be willing to surrender ourselves to the Lord.
Two weeks ago we looked at the Bread and Cup, that it demonstrates to us God’s FAITHFULNESS. We saw that God is always faithful to His people, and He always keeps His promises, so we can trust Him with our lives, even when we don’t know the outcome.
Last week we looked at the Palm Branches that were waved as Jesus entered the city in triumph. They represent Jesus as King, reigning over all, but specifically God’s righteousness, reigning as King over sin and self.
Today, we’ll talk about Easter Lilies. Have you every wondered why lilies are associated with Easter? I have. When we start to ask that question, an answer is easy to find. Did you know that Easter lilies are actually really difficult to grow. The process is a long, precise process. The bulbs have to be cultivated in fields for at least three years, and during that time they require care, moving, and tending as they move through the growth stages. And they have to groom them and care for them in such a way to make sure they bloom on time for Easter, which is a risk because Easter doesn’t fall on the same day each year. Easter lilies are kind of divas.
Quite simply, Easter lilies are a symbol of new life. That’s what they represent. Throughout the Old Testament, lilies symbolize youth, life, and beauty. Those who are full of life, healthy and vibrant are said to grow like lilies. Given how difficult and time-consuming it is to grow lilies, it’s no wonder that they were associated with life that is hearty and well-grown.
But as we look at what today means to all those who have put their faith in Jesus and believed in Him for their salvation, lilies become an important reminder of just what we have as a result of placing our faith in Jesus. For those of us who have embraced Jesus and accepted His forgiveness, lilies remind us of the new life that we have in Jesus. For those who have this new life, you know there is nothing more precious to you than life in Jesus. It’s the sweetest thing because you know what was sacrificed and the price paid to secure that new life.
But I don’t want any of us to miss the sweetness of new life in Christ. So I ask the question that maybe you’re asking, or have asked before. Why do you need new life? Why should you want to have the new life that Jesus offers? After all, you’re alive aren’t you? Why is new life so important? Why is it different?
Let’s trace the “why” throughout the Bible. I’ll start in Genesis 1:26-27, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (NIV)
We were created in God’s image. In the image of the Almighty, the Creator of the Universe. This means a lot of things, and has a lot of implications, but one of the things we know about being created in God’s image, is that we were made to be eternal with Him. We were meant to be with Him and live with Him forever. We also know that it means we were created perfectly. We were created exactly as we needed to be. Nothing was missing in our bodies or minds, we were perfect in every way. When God finished creating mankind, He called us, His creation, “good”. To God, this meant that it was perfect, just as it should be. We were perfect, just as we should be. And it had to be that way, because in order for God’s creation to continue to be with Him for all eternity, we had to be perfect as He is perfect. And that wasn’t a problem when we were created.
Unfortunately, it didn’t stay that way. The first man and the first woman, Adam and Eve, decided they knew better than God, and they did what He told them not to. They messed things up really bad for us, but we really aren’t any better. We continue their legacy of thinking we know better than God and doing the things He’s told us aren’t good for us, and not doing the things that He’s told us are good. We continue to try to go our own way, even when we know better. That’s sin.
Romans 3:23 says this, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (NIV) This sin problem we all have, made us imperfect. The perfection we were created in and created for was lost through sin. And each of us is a sinner. If you’ve told a lie, even a white lie that didn’t hurt anyone else, that’s sin. If you know that this is true, in your bulletin you can fill in the blank, I am a SINNER. That’s the truth. Each of us is a sinner, and perfection is lost through sin.
There’s a problem then because if we’re sinners, no longer perfect, then we can’t spend all of eternity with God in perfection. Hebrews 12:14 says this, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (NIV) Without that perfection that we were created in, NO ONE can come to God. We were created perfect, but that perfection was lost through sin, and each of us sins. But without that perfection, we can’t get back to that eternal relationship with God that we were created for.
Some people, and maybe you find yourself among this group of people, I know I have been tempted by this thought before, some try to do enough good things to be good enough to earn being with God again in that eternal relationship. That’s no good either though. It’s useless. You can’t do enough good things. You could solve world hunger and it wouldn’t be enough to earn perfection back.
Hebrews 10:1 says this, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” (NIV) The law, which was a series of rules and regulations for being “good”, even keeping the whole law wasn’t enough to be perfect again, because the law was just a shadow of what was really needed.
It didn’t matter how many good things people did, still doesn’t matter how many good things you do, you can’t be perfect again just by being good. It’s not enough. Romans 3:10 also adds this, “As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;” (NIV) Our good, isn’t good enough, and keeping the Law won’t make you perfect.
So then that’s it, right? There’s no way for us to be perfect again, no way for us to get back to that eternal relationship with God again, is there? Seems…hopeless, doesn’t it?
Well, no. There is hope. What we needed, that the Law couldn’t do because it was just a shadow of what we really needed, which was a human who was perfect who lived perfectly the way God intended us to do, who would pay the price for our sin, so that we didn’t have to. When we looked at the Lamb and the symbolism of the Lamb at Easter, we saw that the price that had to be paid for our sin was death. We needed a perfect human who could die for us, for me, for you.
Jesus did.
He paid the price. He lived a perfect life, and took our sins on Him to the cross. He died. But in order to have the final word over sin, in order to defeat sin and death forever for us, He had to come back to life. And that is what we celebrate today. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after He died, and when He did that, He defeated death, He defeated the sin that keeps us from having a relationship with God, just like we were created to have.
We celebrate this morning because He is alive! And when He rose from the dead and walked out of the tomb, He gave to those who believe new life. Because if you don’t believe, even though you are walking around breathing air and going about this thing that we call life, you’re dead inside! That’s the truth! You’re dead inside because you have not let Jesus’s forgiveness forgive your sin. He wants to, but you have to say, “yes”.
We celebrate this morning because we have new life in Jesus! I know this beyond a shadow of a doubt because I have experienced it. There is nothing like it! I have tasted the sweetness of the forgiveness that Jesus offers and it sent me free from guilt, shame, and feeling like I had to earn God’s love. I don’t. He loves me, and you, even when we don’t deserve it.
Colossians 1:22 shares this truth with us, “But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—“ (NIV) Through Jesus’s death, God made it possible for you to be perfect. Not because you are perfect, but because Jesus is. How would you like to know that you can be with God and know that you are without blemish and no one can hold anything against you or accuse you of anything wrong. A clean slate. All your wrongs wiped away. Only through faith in Christ is this possible.
Remember that I told you about how difficult it is to grow Easter lilies? That it takes a lot of care and attention and time, but it’s worth it because they are then really hearty and beautiful! Hosea 14:4-5 says this, “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;” (NIV)
The day that this passage talks about is now, the days after Christ came. God sent His only Son, Christ Jesus, to heal us of our sin, to love us freely, so that we can be planted in God. When we are rooted in God, planted in Him through belief in Christ, we will grow like LILIES, this passage says. Just like lilies, when we start a relationship with God through belief in Christ, that relationship requires a lot of care and attention and time, but it’s worth it because the result is beauty, and new life in us, those who believe.
Ephesians 4:22-24 says to put off the old life. When we realize what Jesus did for us, that He died to forgive our sins and give us new life, we’re not supposed to keep living the way we did in our old life. Anything that was a part of who you were before Jesus is meant to die, and you’re meant to let it go and walk away from it. Sometimes that’s hard, but just like the lilies, worth it. New life in Christ is worth it.
So, wherever you find yourself this morning, if you’ve never believed in what Christ did for you and you’ve never placed your faith in Him, if you’ve never accepted new life in Him and the forgiveness of your sins…or if you have and find yourself this morning needing a reminder of what Christ did for you and the new life that you have in Him. Wherever you are this morning, leave behind who you were. Leave behind your old life, and become a new person. Say “yes” to Jesus. Accept the new life that can be found only in Him.
Questions to form your quiet times this week:
1. Have you accepted the free gift of new life in Christ? If so, reflect on how different the new you is from the old you, and give thanks to the Lord. If you haven’t, what reservations do you have about this new life?
2. What does 2 Corinthians 3:18 say happens after we accept new life in Christ?
3. What does Ephesians 2:10 say we were created to do once we have new life in Christ?