The Easter Promise
One of the most celebrated Holiday’s for Christians is Easter Sunday. Growing up, it was a time we went to a sunrise service, then after go out to breakfast with family and maybe find a basket full of candy.
I would hear, during those sunrise services, of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but didn’t fully understand what it entailed and how it truly benefited me. Today, there are still many, which like me, go through the traditions of the holiday, without understanding what is available to them because of the resurrection. So let’s take a delve into what promise comes with Easter.
In John chapter 4, we find Jesus talking to a woman at a well. He asks the woman for water to drink to which she questions how he, being a Jew, would ask of her, a Samaritan for something. He replies that if she knew who he was, she would have asked for living water. What did Jesus mean by this “living water?”
John 7:37-39
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Jesus attended the feast of tabernacles (tents) which was to commemorate their ancestors dwelling in tents in the wilderness. During this feast, they dwelt in booths/tents in Jerusalem as had their ancestors when they left Egypt. The feast continued for eight days, and the last day was the most distinguished and referred to as the “great day of the feast”.
It was on this last day of the feast that Jesus cried out about the living water. It was a call to those who thirst to come to Him and drink. Do you thirst today? Do you see the evil of the world, the trials and tribulations of life, has religion not satisfied your inner longing for a relationship with God? Jesus was calling out to those who thirst for God. They thirst for righteousness. If you believe on Him as the Word (scripture) declares, out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.
What did He mean by living water in this verse which He also mentioned to the woman at the well? Verse 39 gives the meaning; He was referring to the Spirit, which believers should receive, however, at that time the Spirit was not poured out as Jesus had not been glorified (resurrected). So, when would the Spirit be available to believers?
Luke 24:46-49
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:1-8
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Luke was the author of the book of Luke and Acts. At the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts, he records Jesus’ final instructions to his followers. They were to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father, which we find is the Holy Ghost/Spirit.
This is the living water in which Jesus spoke about to the woman at the well and at the feast of booths. Now they are to wait in Jerusalem to receive this living water.
Acts 2:1-4
2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
As this was the feast of Pentecost, Jerusalem was filled with people from all over. When the Holy Spirit was poured out (living water), the news began to spread and many wondered what was going on as they heard them speaking in languages of their lands, but that the disciples shouldn’t be able to speak. Peter stood up and began to preach what this event was:
Acts 2:14-21
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter declared the infilling of the Spirit, which caused them to speak in the different languages, was the fulfillment of the prophecy recording in Joel 2:28-32.
Peter then continued to declare unto the Jews who were there about prophecies David and to declare Jesus was the Messiah. When he finished his speaking, he declared unto them that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, whom they had crucified:
Acts 2:36-39
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
When they heard Peter’s sermon, they were convicted, realizing they crucified the Messiah and ask Peter and the Apostles what they can do to get right with God. Peter’s reply to them was how they can be saved in repenting of their sins, being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of their sins and receiving the Holy Ghost/Spirit. In verse 39 Peter declares the promise was to them (Jews) and to their children (Ancestors) and to all that are afar off (us).
As Jesus was risen from the dead to a glorified body, the Spirit had become available. We find it first poured out in Acts chapter 2 and throughout the book of Acts we find others received the Spirit. This promise is still available today.
Now, in looking at the Word of God, we find Easter is more than a sunrise service, more than candy and getting together with family and friends. Rather, it contains a promise, the promise of the Father where we can receive living water from God. This living water is God’s Spirit residing in us! Water which will satisfy our longing in this life. So this Easter, claim the promise and believe on Jesus “as the scripture hath said” and you will receive the Spirit just like the early Church!
