I am not writing about biblical womanhood or marriage this time. It is on my heart to write about something much more important. This coming Sunday, most people in America will celebrate Easter. Many parents will color and hide eggs and pretend to their children that a mythical bunny delivered them. To church-goers, this is a time to dress up and attend church, even if they do not do so on a regular basis. Families often gather around a table laden with food for an Easter Sunday feast.
We see a barrage of TV and store advertisements for food, baskets, candy, and toys weeks before Easter. Personally, I am saddened by this materialistic sham because it clouds and obscures what The Resurrection is all about. How many people fully comprehend that Jesus, Who after making the ultimate payment for our sins, rose from the dead and that this is the true reason for any celebration?
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Forty-eight years ago, my husband and I were saved by God’s grace shortly before Easter. Because of our great gratitude to God for His unspeakable gift, Easter became a favorite time of year. It was a time to reflect humbly on our own inability to save ourselves. With broken and contrite hearts, we thanked God for allowing us to participate in His plan of salvation. We wanted to refrain from celebrating superficially but instead to contemplate Jesus’s intense sacrifice of suffering on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. As we grew in our knowledge of God’s word and plan, we did not want to lie to our children about Easter bunnies (or Santa Claus at Christmas), but to tell them what Jesus did for them instead. We wanted to pray for our unbelieving family and neighbors that they could know about this great gift as well. When we meditated on the fact that He rose from the dead, we wanted to shout from the rooftop; He’s ALIVE!
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14).
Easter is now perhaps our favorite holiday because many churches still emphasize the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. Will you join us in praying that the lost will hear the message of salvation this year and begin celebrating the true meaning of Easter? Perhaps, those Christians who read this message will also join us in reflecting on God’s gift of His Son; as well as Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our benefit. He bridged the gap between God and us. He gave us an everlasting life that we could never obtain ourselves. He is the Lamb of God Who paid the sin price that was on our heads.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29).
Perhaps we should all spend less time indulging in eggs, candy, and feasts and tell others about this oh so great gift. We should let our children know how important this celebration is to their temporal and eternal lives. Perhaps we could let them participate in giving to a Gospel mission, or we could even volunteer as a family to serve the needy.
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17).
May God bless you and your family as you celebrate this Resurrection Sunday.
In thanksgiving to my Lord, Virginia