THE WEEK THAT SHOOK HISTORY: A 7-Day Easter Devotion by AussieDave AdamsonНамуна

Resurrection Sunday - Jesus Did More Than You Think at Easter

Did you know Easter lined up perfectly with three Jewish feasts?

Spring is when three of the most holy Jewish feasts occurred in succession. The first holy day (holiday) was Passover, which is "pesach" in Hebrew (פסח pronounced "peh-sakh"), which remembers the sacrifice of lambs during the Exodus story that helped save the people from slavery. This holiday was observed on the 14th day of the month of Nisan every year—no matter what day of the week.

The day after Passover was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which in Hebrew is "Chag Hamatzot" (המצות חג pronounced "hahg hah-MAH-tzot"), when Jews asked God to bring life out of the ground in the form of wheat for making bread.

And the sabbath after Unleavened Bread was the Feast of First Fruits, which in Hebrew is "Ḥag haBikkurim" (הבכורים יום pronounced "hahg hah-bik-koorim"), when the people thanked God for giving them hope in the harvest to come that year.

One Spring about 2000 years ago, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits landed in succession—Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On that Friday, Jesus—the Lamb of God—was sacrificed to save the world (John 3:16).

As the Feast of Unleavened Bread started after sundown that night, Jesus—the Bread of Life—was placed in a tomb (John 12:24).

Then, on Sunday during the Feast of First Fruits, Jesus rose from the grave to bring new hope and freedom to His followers (1 Cor 15:20)!

Death couldn't hold Him down. The tomb is empty—game over for darkness, game on for life!

I think that deserves an AMEN.

Reflection Question: How has the resurrection power of Jesus changed something in your life that seemed dead or beyond hope? What area of your life needs resurrection power today?

Action Step: Share with someone today how your encounter with the risen Jesus has changed your life. Be specific about something that has been "resurrected" through your relationship with Him.

Prayer: Father, the empty tomb changes everything! Thank You for defeating sin and death by raising Jesus. Help me understand what this means for my everyday life. Bring new life to the parts of me that feel dead or hopeless. Let me live as a new person because of what Jesus did. Help my words and actions show others that Jesus is alive. Use me to share hope with people who are still living in darkness. Because Jesus lives, I can face tomorrow with hope. Amen.

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