Why Dying Wasn't Jesus’ Only Reason for Living
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Easter Sunday is more than just a date on the calendar or a day to wear your Sunday best. It is the single most important moment in human history. As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, it’s vital to remember that our testimonies, our faith, and our very presence in the house of God began two thousand years ago when Jesus came out of that grave. Without that one pivotal moment, we would still be lost in our own mess and wickedness. But because God saw fit to raise Jesus with all power, we have a reason to worship.
However, the message of Easter isn't just about what happened back then; it’s about what is happening in you right now. It’s about moving from a "checked box" Sunday to a life filled with the Holy Spirit. While Easter is a celebration of Him coming out of the grave, the life of a believer is a daily celebration of you staying out of yours. It is about staying consistent in the rhythm of faith and community to keep the "old self" dead and the "new self" alive.
Jesus as the Living Will: Understanding Your Inheritance
To understand the depth of what happened on Easter, we have to look at it through the lens of a "will." Most of us understand how a legal will works: it is a document that provides instructions on what to do with material wealth. When someone passes away, an executor is appointed to ensure that the will is carried out exactly as it was written. What a person leaves behind marks how much they valued what they had.
Jesus was, in essence, a living will. When He died, He didn't just leave behind a memory; He left an inheritance that can be passed down to your children and your children’s children. This legacy is different from earthly wealth. It doesn’t rust, it doesn’t spoil, and it isn't dependent on the fluctuations of the Dow Jones or the stock market. Your spiritual inheritance depends entirely on heaven.
If you feel like you’ve never received anything because your family "didn't have anything," look again. Because Jesus rose from the grave, there is a legacy in you that is eternal. We are the executors of that will. Through the Holy Spirit, we ensure that what has already happened in the heavenly realm is carried out here in the earthly realm.
The Real Reason for the Life of Christ
There is a common misconception in many Christian circles that Jesus lived specifically so that He could die. While the crucifixion was a necessary part of the plan, it is important to realize this: Dying was not His reason for living.
His reason for living was so that you could live. His purpose was to defeat sin and death so that you could be filled with the Holy Spirit. God saw the brokenness of the world and already had a solution in place. He knew that through the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, He could impart His Spirit into us.
You Cannot Give What You Do Not Own
A powerful principle of the Kingdom is that you cannot pass on what you do not possess. Think of it like a Netflix login. We’ve all probably shared a password that didn't belong to us, but eventually, the owner realizes someone else is using their account. In the spiritual sense, you cannot pour out the Holy Spirit into your family, your work, or your children if you are not first filled by the Spirit yourself.
This Easter, don't just focus on the empty grave. The tomb in Jerusalem is still empty today—they don't even know what to do with it because no one else can be put in there. But the story doesn't end at the empty tomb. Jesus didn't just want to be with us; He wanted to be in us. For that to happen, His body had to be broken, and He had to defeat death to return with authority and power.
Breaking the Orphan Identity
Many people walk into church carrying the weight of "secret sins"—things they’ve looked at, drank, or done throughout the week. This leads to a cycle of guilt that makes you feel like an outsider. But the Resurrection proves that you don't have to live in that guilt. Because Jesus came out of the grave with all power and authority, you can come out of your shame.
One of the greatest shifts a believer can make is moving from an orphan identity to a Kingdom identity.
An orphan feels like they don't belong to anyone.
An orphan lives as if they have no support or heritage.
A child of God knows they have a Father who rolls stones away.
Your earthly father might have been a "rolling stone," but your Heavenly Father is the one who rolls the stone away from the grave. You have to switch your identity. You are not an orphan; you are a child of the King, and you belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
The Great Commission: Authority vs. Power
In Matthew 28, Jesus delivers what we call the Great Commission. He tells His disciples, "All authority has been given to Me." This is a profound statement. He didn't have to wrestle for it or fight for it; it was given to Him over both heaven and earth.
To understand this, we have to distinguish between authority and power. Authority is about access. It’s like a key badge at your job. When you have the badge, you have the authority to be in the building. People without the badge might try to sneak in behind you, but they don't have the right to be there.
Jesus gives us the "keys to the kingdom." In Matthew 16:19, He tells Peter that whatever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven. This isn't just temporary permission; it is permanent authority given to those filled with the Holy Spirit.
Accessing Kingdom Power
While authority is the right to act, power is the ability to produce results. We should all want Kingdom power—not for our own ego, but for the sake of the Gospel.
Authority to speak to disease: Rebuking sickness in the name of Jesus.
Authority over addiction: Breaking the chains that hold people captive.
Authority over brokenness: Declaring healing over lives that the world has discarded.
When Jesus sent the disciples out originally, He gave them temporary power. But after the Resurrection, He gave them all authority. As executors of His will, we are called to use that authority to bring the reality of heaven down to earth.
Key Takeaways for Your Walk of Faith
Stay in the Rhythm: Easter is the start, but consistency in community and worship is what keeps your "old self" in the grave.
Claim Your Inheritance: You are an executor of God’s will. You have access to spiritual riches that do not fade or fail.
Check Your Identity: Stop living like a spiritual orphan. You are a child of God with a Father who has authority over life and death.
Use Your Authority: Through the Holy Spirit, you have the keys to bind and loose. Speak to the "stones" in your life and command them to move in Jesus' name.
Conclusion
The message of Easter is a message of victory and impartation. Jesus didn't just leave an empty tomb; He left a filled people. He rose so that He could live within you, giving you the authority to change your circumstances, your family, and your world.
As you move forward from this Resurrection Sunday, remember that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. You aren't just a spectator of a historical event; you are a participant in a heavenly kingdom. Walk in your authority, live in your new identity, and keep the "grave clothes" off. He is risen, and because He lives, you can face every tomorrow with power and purpose.
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