The Promise of Easter

“Who do you say that I am?”

Apr 05, 2022

"Honey, I promise to clear my schedule and be there for the kids at the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt."

"Yes, friend, I’ll attend church with you on Easter Sunday."

"This Easter, we’re all going to church as a family!"

Promises.

While some may be fulfilled, others will be broken, forgotten, or pushed aside. Work tasks interfere with the children’s festivities.

Another opportunity comes along just in time to get you out of that invitation from a friend. The weather prediction is perfect for a family weekend at the lake.

A Promise Fulfilled

This reminds me of the promise of all promises. One of the major themes in the book of Matthew is "Jesus as the Fulfillment of God’s Promises…"¹

In chapter sixteen, Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" The disciples respond, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Matthew 16.13-14

A second time, Jesus asks, "But who do you say that I am?" To this, Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (vs. 15-16)

Friend, we are living in a time of all-out war against who Jesus was and still is today. The writings of Matthew were intent on revealing who Jesus Christ claimed to be and who He said He was.

Messianic Prophecy

The Old Testament repeatedly promises a coming Messiah—we refer to this as messianic prophecy. Recently, I came across a list of fifty-five such prophecies. Here are two examples from the list.

Messiah’s Birth: Old Testament Promise

"The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7.14

Messiah's Birth: New Testament Fulfillment

"And the angel answered [Mary], 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'" Luke 1:35

Messiah’s Death: Old Testament Promise

"He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth…" Isaiah 25:8

Messiah's Death: New Testament Fulfillment

"Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:54b

Remembering, or hearing for the first time, these ancient promises of the Son of God who would come to save us should cause us to greatly rejoice. This is the promise of all promises—the promise of Easter!

Son of God vs. Son of Man

Later, in chapter twenty-six, Matthew writes of another conversation concerning Jesus’ identity. Judas has betrayed Him. The authorities have arrested Jesus and he stands before Caiaphas, the high priest. And "the high priest said to [Jesus], 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.'" Matthew 26.63

"You have said so," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26.64

Why did Jesus refer to himself as the Son of Man if he was the Son of God come to earth? The New Testament Jews knew well the Old Testament Scriptures. When Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man, the Jews would have immediately connected this to the One spoken of in the book of Daniel.

Messiah's Dominion & Reign: Old Testament Promise

"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." Daniel 7:13–14

What a beautiful foretelling, here in Daniel, of the Son of Man who was to come and who would be forever. Friend, we have hope! We can hope for the fulfillment of Messiah's eternal dominion and reign.

Salvation's Promise

Who do we say that He is? The Old Testament promises concerning His birth and death are fulfilled; Messiah has come. If we receive him as Lord and Savior, our salvation is secure for eternity.

In this season of all-out war against who Jesus was and still is, let us be ready to answer the question, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" Can you respond with absolute certainty, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God?" (Matt. 16.16)

The Promise-of-all-Promises

"...we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's." 1 John 2.1b-2a