So, what are the most important days in history? You could say it was the day you were born because you would not be here if it did not happen. However, I am not talking about your individual history. But what are the most important days in history that affects us all? I think there are two days that certainly rank as the two most important days. At least they are two of the top five. Let us look and see how these two days might bring us hope.
The world will you tell you the most important days could be based on what man has accomplished in most cases. Things like the written word, the invention of the wheel, the printing press, the computer, landing on the moon and so on. They will also include the rise and fall of major empires like Greece and Rome. They will also include as part of the long list of events the founding of major religions including Christianity but interestingly, they do not include Judaism. Now all these things happened and were important, but I believe there are five key dates in history. They are the Creation of the World, The fall of mankind, the birth of Jesus, the crucifixion of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus. There is also a future event that would rank in my top six, that is the return of Jesus.
To me two of those days key to having true hope. These are the two days we will celebrate from today until Sunday, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus. I believe without these two events in history there would be no true hope. I am reminded of one of my favorite Hymns written by Edward Mote, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”, or “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand” the stanza that I think of is, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
A key passage from scripture confirms the sentiment of the song in 1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
I want to point out a couple of things about the crucifixion of Christ that make it so important. Jesus was without sin. He did not deserve to be crucified. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV) He also willingly gave His life for the forgiveness of sin so we might be reconciled with God. “who gave himself (Jesus) for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” Galatians 1:4 (ESV)
I also believe Christ suffered something which must have been close to unbearable. At the time of His death for the first and only time Jesus was separated from His Father God because God could not tolerate the presence of our sins on His Son. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 (ESV) then Jesus willingly gave up His life man did not take it from Him. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” Matthew 27:50
None of this would have made any difference if three days later Jesus would have still been in the tomb. He was not He had risen. He had defeated sin, death, and the devil. Matthew 28:1-6a says, “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.’” (ESV) My Pastor Troy Dobbs gave a great message on Palm Sunday that explains what we gain when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior,
We now have a choice to make. We either accept what the Bible says about Jesus, that He willingly died on the cross for the sins of the world and He rose from the dead that we might be saved, or He did not. Those are the choices we have. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
My hope is therefore in Christ alone because of these two days. I pray that your hope is there as well. If you do not know Jesus, the true source of hope does not abide in you. Learn how to get the hope you need. Learn how to know Jesus
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press or Christianbook.com at Amazon or Google
