I’ve been reading the Easter story. It’s that time of year you know. That sounds a funny thing to say, doesn’t it? Maybe I shouldn’t be thinking of it that way. We tend to holiday-ize some Bible events, don’t we? Christmas and Easter are the easiest to secularize and as humans we’ve done an outstanding job of it. Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Not a criticism, just an observation. I’m speaking for myself, I’m currently all bunnied up and have gotten supplies for the egg hunt too. But the down and dirt about it is that the birth of Jesus and the death and resurrection of Jesus are not secular events. I must never forget. The Easter story begins with death and ends with life. We have to understand the death in order to understand the life.
Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.
Matthew 27:36
Crucified. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Does that cause you to tremble, tremble, tremble? Me too. Maybe the world has turned Easter into a parade because it’s too awful to think about the real acts of Easter, a man hung on a cross. Give me the bunny. It shocks the senses to think about folks hanging out just waiting for Him to die. Let’s hide some eggs. Secularizing Christian events does soften them for our minds, makes them more bearable, more palatable. It is easier to think of Peter Cottontail then a man dying on a cross for me.
When I think about those who “sat around,” I wonder what they were thinking. Crucifixions were not uncommon so they may not have been too affected by it. Maybe they thought nothing – just another criminal, just another crucifixion. Maybe the violence of their day had become so commonplace they were desensitized to it. Maybe people didn’t even notice as they walked by Calvary. We can’t really blame them, after all, isn’t that the world we live in too, deadened? Do we even think of the crucifixion for what it was? Harsh, cruel, horrific.
Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit.
Matthew 27:50
Dead. The sinless One. Died because we are the sin-full ones. Do we think of it that way? In my stead. In my place, the Spotless lamb. If you know Jesus, not just the name, death is not the end, actually, it’s just the beginning. We must understand the death before we can appreciate the life.
“I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised form the dead, just as he said he would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
Matthew 28:5-6
Resurrected! The real Easter story. The beginning of a life of eternity. The key to all things Jesus. Just as He promised – I will come again. Just as He promised, we will be resurrected to eternal life with Him.
I want to remember that Easter is not just a celebration of the spring season, but a celebration of my new life, your new life! I want to remember that His death led to my life. I want to remember that His death took the place of my death – here on earth and for all eternity. That is the Good News!
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Easter with bunnies, eggs, and bonnets. But, we must remember the most important part about Easter is what happened at the cross – the crucifixion, His death; and we must remember what happened at the tomb, His resurrection, He Arose! Jesus is the reason for the season. Jesus made Resurrection Day possible for all of us. As children of God, we should live as if every day of our life was Resurrection Day because it is! We must daily celebrate the life that led to death, that led to life. Yours, mine and all those who will receive Him.
But how will they receive Him if they do not know Him? How will they know Him if no one tells them about Him? If we do not proclaim the Good News to those who don’t know Jesus, are we much different than the guards, just hanging around waiting for death? Let us not be numb, complacent, inert to a world that is hurting and broken and needs Good News. Who will you tell about Jesus today?