What about Easter? What should this time mean? What does it mean to me?
First, we would have to understand that the commemoration of Easter is never ordered in Scripture. This Christian time of remembrance and celebration is the invention of men of old who wished to set a time aside to remember the founding act of the Christian church. In reality though, the church remembers every time we lift the communion cup. We remember every time we go before the Lord in thankful prayer.
Bunnies, colored eggs, daffodils and Easter bonnets are all human additions to the scripture story. These additions are man’s way of turning the seminal act of God in history, the act that established the Christian faith, into something human, where no act of God is required.
But the original Easter, although it is never called that in scripture, was totally about God. It is the story of a loving, forgiving God entering into human history with an act that is so magnificent, so altogether other-worldly that no one but God could have accomplished it. It is the story of Jesus suffering before His accusers. It is the story of the crucifixion. It is the story of the empty tomb. It is the story of the One who assured us, “I will come again.” It is the story of the One who promised, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
So what does Easter mean to me? It means that God, in His loving compassion provided a way of escape from my sins. It means that God made a way for me to enjoy His presence forever in heaven. It is all of God. I could do nothing but surrender my will to His grace.
When we hear the magnificent Easter music. When we are swept away by the thought that, “Up From the Grave He Arose,” we stand before Him in thankfulness and worship, knowing it is all of Him.
I am not particularly offended when unbelievers hunt for Easter eggs or enjoy the cuteness of bunnies.
But the truth is that Easter is about God, and Jesus Christ who came to make a way for His people. I am eternally blessed to be counted among that number.