Grand Prize Winner

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

– Mark 10:17

You’re the Grand Prize Winner!

At least that’s what’s printed in bold red letters on the official-looking envelope. You then rip open the sealed flap with anticipation. And as you scan the accompanying letter’s first paragraph, it all sounds good. You learn that you’ve won an all-expense-paid, 3-week trip to Hawaii. You’ll be staying at a fancy resort on the Big Island. And your days will be spent sightseeing among the Aloha State’s active volcanoes, lush rain forests, and white sandy beaches. 

How could you be so lucky? It almost sounds too good to be true.

And of course, it is. As you scan down the page, you begin to read the fine print. First, it says your cruise ship leaves from California, which means you’ll have to pay for your own flight from the East Coast. Right there, you’ll be out hundreds of dollars. Then it says that you’re responsible for all taxes, gratuities, and service charges. Transportation around the islands is extra. And even breakfasts and lunches aren’t part of the deal!

This is one of those times when being a “winner” means having to do and pay a lot. You’ll need to drain your bank account and run up your credit card before you ever reach your dream destination. And besides, you can’t afford to take off that much time from your job.

What you really need is a grand prize to an unforgettable destination, where someone has already paid your entire bill. All the work is done, and your worries are over. That sounds like … paradise!

So, maybe you’re a winner after all. And as Christ-followers, that’s what Easter is all about. It’s the day that God set apart before the creation of the world, when he would defeat death once and for all. He came to earth in the form of a man (Jesus), lived a perfect, blameless life, and paid in full for the sins of all who would believe and put their faith in him as their savior.  

It was about 2,000 years ago that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament predictions about him that were written centuries before his birth. And following his unjust execution on a cross for your sake and mine, he returned to life three days later — just as foretold. Death, the common enemy of us all, was defeated. 

Here’s how Jesus explained this Good News: 

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

Now that’s a real grand prize. But “prize” sounds a bit impersonal — and a little like something we’ve had to work for to achieve. Instead, think of it as your Creator’s priceless gift to you. It cost so much that no one except God’s own Son could pay it. But for those who accept it, it’s totally free.