The sacrifice of Jesus for our sins is complete in that today, the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and is alive. For some people, even now, they find that hard to believe - even more so than they did then - BUT, what is there not to believe? Can you not believe that God, our Heavenly Father, loves you so much that He would give up His One and Only Begotten Son, for you? Jesus said you are worthy. He willingly went to the cross, suffered greatly, and died for you and for me. What a wondrous Savior He is!
But there are those who will not believe. There are those who do believe, but refuse to follow. There are those who wonder about the truth.
I Corinthians 1:18 (NIV): "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
This day of 'celebration' has evolved into Easter baskets and big lunches/dinners and gatherings. It has been many years since I have bought Easter baskets. And now I wonder why I did that as I have learned more about Easter and its true meaning. I guess because that is just how I grew up. Some things we just continue on - including taking photos in our fancy Easter outfits - and generally MY children would all be frowning because 1) they were mad about something and 2) they didn't like to get their photo taken!
As I looked today at where the Easter baskets came from, I read that they come from a pagan source. Google tells me that an Anglo-Saxon goddess, Ostara, had a pet bird that would lay brightly colored eggs. She would turn her pet bird into a rabbit on Easter (and it continued laying eggs) and thus came up with the Easter bunny.
Another theory is that Easter baskets and the Easter Bunny were brought to America in the 18th Century by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. They brought the idea of the egg-delivering hare called "Osterhase" with them, along with the idea that children should prepare nests for the bunny to leave brightly colored eggs on Easter.
There are several other 'theories' or 'guesses' of how the tradition of Easter baskets generated, and they all may be true. But Easter baskets are still just that. Easter baskets. Full of chocolate (usually) and colorful papers and items. I beleive they are to symbolize 'newness' and 'fresh'.
But the true meaning of Easter is Jesus. He gives us New Life in Him. When we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for our sins, and He rose again on the third day, and we profess that, we have newness of Life in Him. When we make Him Lord (instead of all these other distractions), we are assured of eternal life with Him.
John 3:16 (NIV): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Easter meant we all got new outfits - symbolizing the 'newness of life'. I can't remember the last time I bought a new outfit for Easter.... I think it was back in 1983. We never had money for new Easter clothes after that. And now, it doesn't matter. The dress I plan to wear to church today (if it still fits!) is probably nearly 3 -4 years old - and that's ok cause I haven't wore a dress much the past 2.5 years due to working at home. Jeans and T-shirt is my usual attire for the home office.
What do you think about when you consider Easter? Have you shared the story of Easter with your children as they were growing up? If you didn't take them to church, and you don't tell them, you are held responsible for their lives not serving God. How do they know about Jesus if you don't share it with them?
Last night we watched an Easter live performance by Free Chapel. They are doing multiple performances this weekend. It is now posted on You Tube - Go to Jentezen Franklin, and select Easter - A Live Experience. It's about an hour long, and very briefly goes through what happened and brought about Easter. And yes, when I imagine/see the scourging and all that Jesus went through for me - and for you - it brought tears to my eyes.
How can anyone love someone so much, who isn't even in existence yet- and yet, He knew us and He loved us so much, He willingly gave up His life for us.
There is no greater love. He loves me, O how He loves me! He loves you, O how He loves you! O how He loves!!
'At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day."
Easter blessings to you and yours.
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