No event in human history was as important as what took place during the final days of Jesus’ public ministry: His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

Why is this? The reason is because these two events — Jesus’ death and resurrection — were God’s way of bringing salvation to the human race. By nature we are lost and separated from God because of our sin — and no matter how hard we try, we can’t cleanse ourselves of our sins or make ourselves pure in God’s sight.

But God loves us in spite of our sin, and on the cross all our sins were placed on Jesus — the sinless Son of God — and He took upon Himself the judgment we deserve. And by His resurrection He conquered sin and death and hell, and opened heaven’s doors for us. His disciples could say with boldness that “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32).

Where is Jesus now? Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus was taken up into heaven — and now He sits at the right hand of God (i.e., in the place of authority and favor). And some day He will return to destroy all evil and establish His Kingdom. But Jesus also resides in the heart of every believer, by His Spirit. And He’ll come into your heart if you’ll turn to Him and give your life to Him. Why not ask Christ to come into your life today?