Just aWhen one in today's society hears the word "Easter" they do not generally associate this with a Christian holiday. They think of small children frolicking gleefully in the lush green pastures beneath the crisp blue sky while beams of sunshine kiss their cheeks as the search for beautifully colored eggs filled with chocolaty candies and sugary sweets. Sadly, Easter has become nothing more than another commercial holiday in the secular realm.
What is even more sad is how this idea has permeated into Evangelicalism. A great number of Christians do more to enjoy the "holiday" of Easter rather than remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now, please don't misunderstand me here. I am not saying that I believe Easter egg hunts or enjoying candy to be immoral. They are fine, but they have their place and their place is certainly not above Christ and his sacrifice. Easter should be a time of remembrance and appreciation of the sacrifice of the lamb of God. Jesus was the lamb of God that was slain as the sacrifice for the sins of all who would believe in him. The Bible says:
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,He was crushed for our iniquities;The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,And by His scourging we are healed.
Is. 53:5
He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
Rom. 4:25
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
1 Cor. 15:3-4
Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.
Is. 52:14
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation
Heb. 5:8-9
And most importantly during Easter:
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. "He is not here, for He has risen..."
Matt. 28:5-6
Easter is to be a time of celebration and praise to our Savior Jesus Christ for suffering on our behalf and for rising from the dead as proof of our justification. What a glorious time of year this is for Christians! We serve a risen Savior. The icy cold fingers of death could not hold him for Jesus holds the keys to death, hell and the grave. My family has started a new tradition this year. We will be eating lamb at least one time during the Easter weekend to remind us of the spotless and innocent lamb that was slain on our behalf. Praise God for His perfect sacrifice!
2 comments:
Very appropriate post for this season of advent, Lloyd. I genuinely enjoy and appreciate having verses pertaining to the crucifixion and resurrection laid out to behold in all their weight and glory.
With that said, does anyone have any reservations of so openly accepting the name "Easter" for the holiday? From my understanding, the name comes from pagan connotations relating to spring festivals common in many cultures during the season of "re-birth."
Albert Mohler suggests Christians refer to this particular Sunday as "Resurrection Day." Undoubtedly, this better emphasizes the significance of the day, at least for those who actually believe in the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Then again, that's why we should hold highly the Lord's Day each week, the first day of the week in which the risen Lord Jesus appeared to His disciples to give them real and evident hope over the power of sin and death.
Furthermore, even though I lean toward Mohler's solution, I slip into unconsciously saying "Easter" in reference to the holiday out of 20-plus years of practice. Not only that, but the imagery of bunnies and eggs comes to mind more quickly than Christ's risen body when I hear the word Easter.
One thing I am thankful for, however, is the fact that God in His steadfast grace and provision makes me look to the death, burial and resurrection of His Son each day as I am reminded of my sin and rebellion toward the Holy One of Israel.
To end on a lighter note, rest assured, we can still thank God for His common grace in giving us "Easter" candy. Cadberry cream eggs, anyone?
A couple of our Founding Fathers on Easter or Resurrection Day.
"Jesus forgave the crime of murder on His cross; and after His resurrection He commanded His disciples to preach the gospel of forgiveness, first at Jerusalem where he well knew His murderers still resided. These striking facts are recorded for our imitation, and seem intended to show that the Son of God died not only to reconcile God to man but to reconcile men to each other."
Benjamin Rush, (signer of the Declaration of Independence)
"The approaching festival of Easter and the merits and mercies of our Redeemer's abundant redemption . . . have inspired me with the hope of finding mercy before my Judge and of being happy in the life to come -- a happiness I wish you to participate with me by infusing into your heart a similar hope. . . . and impart to you that peace of mind which the world cannot give."
Charles Carroll, to his son (signer of the Declaration of Independence and a framer of the Bill of Rights)
Kent
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