Easter, as I have observed, is celebrated by the masses much in the same manner as Christmas is celebrated. At least there are parallels. Christmas trees with all their decorated splendor of brightly colored ornaments and flickering lights transition to Easter trees filled with brightly colored eggs, bunnies, and chicks.....and flickering lights. Gifts under the Christmas tree transition to Easter baskets filled with goodies, toys, and often an eclectic special treasure or two. I know of a loving wife who thoughtfully made an Easter basket for her husband that contained a Braun cordless shaver.....among other things....it was the one thing he requested for Christmas and didn't get.
At my house these gift and goodie laden baskets were set at the foot of my children's beds the night before Easter Sunday morning. They would wake up in excitement and anticipation of what the Easter Bunny brought them just in the same way they would wake up Christmas morning to see what Santa Claus brought them. And didn't I relish the bright smiles on their faces and the happiness in their eyes as they tore through those baskets "oohing and awing" at each item discovered....just like Christmas, as I would watch them tear open each gift with the same "oohs and awes".
The music of the holiday transitions from "Here Comes Santa Claus" to "Here Comes Peter Cottontail". The colors of our dress transition from the deep reds and greens of the "Holley and the Ivy" to the light and bright pastels of newly blooming flowers, the colors of spring. Even that classic Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon transitions to an Easter theme entitled "The Easter Beagle". In fact, animated Christmas specials about Santa and Rudolph transition to animated Easter specials about Peter Rabbit.
Easter does have a few frivolous traditions of its own however. I should like to point out two. We don't color eggs at Christmas, nor do we hunt them at Christmas...we do that only at Easter. I remember, as a boy growing up in a pastor's house, sitting at the table with wild-eyed joy as my mom prepared all the colors in the Paas egg coloring kit so me and my siblings could color the eggs for the hunt the following day. Preparing the eggs in many ways was more fun than hunting them ....and what makes it memorable for me today is the laughter, love, and togetherness of it all. My brothers and sister all making a wonderful mess of color at the table having the time of our lives....such memories are priceless....and I treasure them. My older brother and I were always given the honor of hiding the eggs for my two younger siblings. They would stay in the house as we tried our best to position each egg in an impossible to find place....but baby brother and sis found them....maybe with a little help...but they found them. Ah, such wonderful memories!
In a more somber vein, Easter brings with it the same gnawing question Christmas does. To quote that beloved Charlie Brown, disillusioned by the Christmas holiday being so commercialized, he cries out from his anguished heart, "Can someone tell me what Christmas is all about?!". Easter cries out with the same question,"Can someone tell me what Easter is all about?!". A relevant question I think. Like Christmas, Easter has gotten commercialized. Retailers market Easter Sunday attire on their racks well before Valentines Day merchandise has a chance to sell. We hunt for that one unique dress that will set off a flurry of compliments from others who participated in the same hunt. Sometimes I wonder if Easter Sunday worship is more about comparing and contrasting what each is wearing and pridefully answering questions like, "Wherever did you find such a beautiful dress?" or "Your kids (or grand kids) just look adorable in their Easter clothes." Other questions asked at church on Easter Sunday may include,"What are you doing after, going out to eat somewhere special or staying home?" "We're having brunch at such and such, you know those tickets were $50.00 a piece!" "Hello Mr. so and so, haven't seen you here since the Christmas musical."
If the true meaning of Easter were nothing but bunnies and eggs, there wouldn't be a point redeemable in any of it. Easter would be just an excuse to dress up and look our best, provide fun and entertainment for our children, and gather with family members after church for an Easter feast. I am glad Easter is so much more than that.....
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die
for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made
right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save
us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God
was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies,
we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son." -Rom.5:8-10 NLT
As Linus, that wise old sage and friend of Charlie Browns', quoted from the book of Luke to explain the true meaning of Christmas, here, in the book of Romans...Paul summarizes the true meaning of Easter. Easter has two distinctive parts that make up one miraculous whole. One: Christ died on a cross....that cross was stained with his blood and covered with our sin. Two: Christ rose again from the dead....revealed by an empty tomb and verified by many witnesses who saw and conversed with him after.
In considering these facts, I wonder what it means for us.....here are a few thoughts:
1. God had to take initiative to restore a relationship with us that was broken in the Garden. He sent his Son to dwell among us. God pitched his tent through Jesus smack in the middle of all humanity.
2. This initiative speaks of God's desire for that relationship with us. He spared no expense to close the gap between him and us. Sparing not even his only Son.
3. There is nothing in us that merits his friendship. Paul even says that while we were God's enemies, he provided a means by which we could relate rightly to and with him.
4. It speaks of his deep love for us....in that while we were still sinners (separated from him), Christ died for us..a death we deserved to die...the bible says.
5. Christ became our sin on the cross and suffered God's rejection at the moment he did. No greater love in all of history has ever been demonstrated, nor ever will be.
6. Jesus' victory over death is our assurance of the same victory. We have hope of something so much more than just the ups and downs of this life.
7. Because of his death, burial, and resurrection, temporary life becomes eternal and death no longer carries any finality but ushers in a new beginning.
Standing on my own good deeds is not enough.....even my good deeds are dirty in the sight of a holy God. However, clothed in Christ's blood, that robe of righteousness (Christs' righteousness, not mine), I can stand before this holy God who now has become Father and he sees me as a child, his child. I come to him with nothing to offer that earns me an audience....I come to him with Christ's clothes on and become family. This strips me of my tendency to want to earn my own way, chart my own course. All I can do is receive in faith this wonderful gift. And that is all that is required. In Christ and Christ alone do I find a peace that goes beyond my own understanding.
Easter is a time to rejoice in these things, and Easter is so much more. I write this feeling inadequate to do so. Who am I to expound upon the glories of Gods rich and deep love for us and the grace he demonstrated toward us through his Son? I simply know I have life eternal because of this wonderful God who spared no expense for my redemption. I weep with gratitude and awe that all of this was done for the likes of us.
May you and yours discover the real Easter, the one that goes way beyond bunnies and eggs!
Bravo! Thanks for being the beginning of what should be for me an incredible Easter celebration! Great job as always.
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