Resurrection - A free Gift

The Savior’s Resurrection assures all of us that someday we, too, will follow Him and experience our own resurrection. The gift of resurrection and immortality is given freely through the loving grace of Jesus Christ to all people of all ages, regardless of their good or evil acts.

John 11: 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: The Resurrection is unconditional and applies to all who have ever lived and ever will live. It is a free gift. In Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.Because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, physical death is only temporary: "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" ( 1 Corinthians 15:22

The miracle of the Lord’s Resurrection is a miracle for all mankind. This Resurrection reunited Christ’s physical body with His spirit. The Resurrection from the dead is a most beautiful aspect of the Atonement and truly a part of the plan of happiness; the Resurrection is universal and applies to the entire human family.

Nothing is more absolutely universal than the resurrection. Almost immediately after the glorious resurrection of the Lord, Matthew records, “The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matt 27:52-53).

Now be of good cheer for we all know that we will meet our loved ones again, but will be best to have them with us in Jesus' feet.

Easter and Jesus Christ

What is Easter? Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But where did Easter come from? In this article you'll learn more about the history of the word Easter, how Easter is the time to remember Christ's eternal gift, and how Easter gives us hope.

Where Easter Comes From: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified at the time of the passover. Three days later He rose from the dead and was resurrected which we celebrate on Easter.

From the Bible Dictionary we learn where the word Easter comes from: "The word Easter is from Eastre, a Norse goddess whose pagan festival was observed at the spring equinox. The association of this pagan goddess with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was only by adaptation and synthesis. There is no real connection.... It thus became a springtime anniversary, and has come to be called Easter in the Christian world" (Bible Dictionary: Easter).

Easter and Jesus Christ: When Christ was crucified upon the cross He gave up His life through the separation of His body and spirit. His body was laid to rest in a tomb while His spirit, which was still alive, was in the spirit of paradise. The criminal next to him asks Him to remember him when they die. He deliberately said He would be in paradise. (Luke 23:42-43).

While there, Christ was dead for those three days He was preaching His gospel to those spirits who hadn't heard it, the spirits who were in the spirit prison. ( 1 Peter 3: 18-19)

Three days later Jesus Christ was resurrected- His spirit returned to His body. Christ's crucifixion, death, and resurrection are all major parts of the Atonement and are what we should remember and celebrate at Easter. The day Jesus was resurrected was the first Easter.

Easter Gives Us Hope: Easter is a special holiday to celebrate because remembering Christ's atonement and resurrection brings hope and faith. "What meaning would life have without the reality of immortality? Otherwise life would become only a dismal journey of 'getting and spending,' only to end in utter and hopeless oblivion"

I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He suffered and died for each of us. I know He was resurrected and lives. Easter is a beautiful holiday when we can remember Jesus Christ and worship Him as the Son of God and as our Savior and Redeemer.

Atonement of Christ

The Atonement of Jesus is depicted as he kneels in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Luke 22:43).

The literal meaning of the word "Atonement" is self-evident: at-one-ment, the act of unifying or bringing together what has been separated and estranged. The Atonement of Jesus Christ was indispensable because of the separating transgression, or fall, of Adam, which brought death into the world when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9; 3:1-24).

Because He was God—even the Son of God—He could carry the weight and burden of other men's sins on Himself. Isaiah prophesied our Savior's willingness to do this in these words: "Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. 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." (Isaiah 53:4-5.)

That holy, unselfish act of voluntarily taking on Himself the sins of all other men is called the Atonement. How one could bear the sins for all is beyond the comprehension of mortal man. But this I know: He did take on Himself the sins of all and did so out of His infinite love for each of us.

No mortal being had the power or capability to redeem all other mortals from their lost and fallen condition, nor could any other voluntarily forfeit His life and thereby bring to pass a universal resurrection for all other mortals. Only Jesus Christ was able and willing to accomplish such a redeeming act of love.

What does the Atonement of Jesus Christ means to you? Please share your stories below.