What are we to do?
Easter has come and gone once again. And there are many people, who profess to be Christian, that did not take the opportunity to be in the Lord’s house to celebrate this most blessed and holy celebration of the Lord’s resurrection. The world, and even more close to home our American culture, has promoted a mindset which doesn’t acknowledge the great importance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. From a secular perspective it is looked at as just another holiday of the year that may give people the chance to gather as family for a big meal, have a paid day off from work, a vacation day from school, and the fun of making up Easter baskets and doing outdoor activities such as Easter egg hunts.
My grandson, who is going to be 5, has recently come to the revelation that the Easter bunny is a fake/mythological character. He has made this known to his parents and is pretty open in his belief about this traditional Easter icon. Yet, he is honest to respond about his understanding of Jesus rising from the dead and being alive. If a young boy can have this understanding or belief, why is it so difficult for older human beings to be accepting of such a work of God? Jesus said in Mark 10:15, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter into it.” Jesus death and resurrection are the foundations of the Christian faith and to negate the importance of these two God ordained events is to turn our hearts away from the gifts of the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation the Lord offers us.
What are we to do fellow saints? We must be confident and bold in professing our belief that Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. The world and our American society may try to dummy down the meaning and purpose for celebrating Easter, but we are called to be proclaimers of the truth of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and His victory over death and hell.
I for one am willing to stand alongside my grandson and announce that the Easter bunny is not real, but Jesus being alive most certainly is something which is real and worth believing in. The Easter bunny cannot provide eternal life, but I guarantee the risen Christ definitely can. Pastor McCarty