What is the Real Meaning of
Easter?
In the Bible, Godly men are shown
to be concerned about living in a “large” land. Of course, in a more agrarian society, “large”
is better, as far as land goes. But when God promises to save us by putting us into a “large land,”
it’s clear that more is included than going to heaven after living for decades in a narrow land
before we up and die. What is the modern equivalent of a “large land?” It varies from person to
person, but it includes some form of economic prosperity and political Liberty. “Liberty” and
“large” are Biblical concepts we are not familiar enough with. Let’s review them and put them
in our brains, so that as we read the Bible we will be more aware of them.
- Genesis 34:21
“These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and
trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as
wives, and let us give them our daughters.
- Exodus 3:8
So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to
bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to
the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites
and the Jebusites.
- Judges 18:10
When you go, you will come to a secure people and a large land. For God has
given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”
- 1 Chronicles 4:40
And they found rich, good pasture, and the land was broad, quiet, and
peaceful; for some Hamites formerly lived there.
- Nehemiah 7:4
Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the
houses were not rebuilt.
- Nehemiah 9:35
For they have not served You in their kingdom,
Or in the many good things that You gave them,
Or in the large
and rich land which You set before them;
Nor did they turn
from their wicked works.
One of the blessings promised to the obedient in the Bible is "liberty."
- LEVITICUS XXV.X (25:10)
proclaim liberty throughout all the land
to all its inhabitants.
- Psalm 119:45
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
- Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD
is upon Me,
Because the LORD has
anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty
to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who
are bound;
- Jeremiah 34:8
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD,
after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim
liberty to them:
Jeremiah 34:15-17
15 Then you recently turned and did what was right in
My sight—every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor; and you made a covenant before Me in
the house which is called by My name. 16 Then you turned around and profaned My name, and every
one of you brought back his male and female slaves, whom you had set at liberty, at their
pleasure, and brought them back into subjection, to be your male and female slaves.’
17 “Therefore
thus says the LORD: ‘You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty,
every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,’
says the LORD—’to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will
deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is liberty.
- James 1:25
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not
a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
- James 2:12
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.