Easter is the Most Important Christian Celebration 

      In 1 Corinthians 15: 12-19 Paul is sharing with us the meaning and importance of Easter!  Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how is it that[c] some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain [useless, amounting to nothing], and your faith is also in vain [imaginary, unfounded, devoid of value and benefit—not based on truth]. 15 We are even discovered to bear  false witness to [misrepresenting] God, because we testified concerning Him that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, either; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and powerless [mere delusion]; you are still in your sins [and under the control and penalty of sin]. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied. (AMP) 

      This is an excellent scripture that every Christian should know and use to defend their faith. Christianity is unique because of the teachings and works of our Master Jesus Christ. His speeches were so persuasive and transformed many lives. Jesus Christ told his followers in John 15:25, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead as he promised.  He is alive. We celebrate Easter to remember the victory over sins. If Jesus Christ was not resurrected, we would still be slave to our sins and powerless.  The apostle Paul is reminding us that Easter is the essence of Christianity. Without Easter, our faith will have no meaning. With the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have salvation, power, hope, and eternal life. 

       Romans 8:11 states that The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to our mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within us.  I would like all of us to realize that the power used to perform the miracle of Easter is available for us to use.  We are alive because of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  No matter what struggles we're facing, or what hardships the world is up against, we can still celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.   My prayer is that this Easter celebration should be a life-changing experience for all of us.

  Blessings, 

 Pastor Patrick Munyakazi