Which Easter will it be?

Written by Pastor McCarty on April 15, 2014. Posted in Pastors Pen

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Which Easter story will you celebrate?  It seems the world has gone so much for the easter bunny, chocolate and eggs that the entire story of Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection has been lost.  Speak to people today about what Easter is all about and most will not even know about Jesus’ resurrection.  Like Santa Claus, the easter bunny has come front and center.  Historically the concept of an easter bunny came from immigrants from Germany.  We are told German Lutherans brought this tradition with them.  Why they began to use the image of a bunny for easter is unclear.  But, it has certainly become the dominate theme in our culture today.

Though we might add coloring eggs, hiding eggs, or eating chocolate to our Easter celebration, it must never replace the real message of Christ’s resurrection.  How important is the resurrection of Jesus?  In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul lists three reasons the resurrection is indispensable to our faith.  In 15:12-13 Paul says if there is no resurrection then even Jesus did not rise from the dead.  That would mean He is still in the tomb, dead like all other human religious leaders.  Second, in 15:14 and 17 Paul says if Christ is not alive our faith is futile, vain, empty, and useless!  Who wants to own something that is useless?  No one.  Thirdly, in 15:15 Paul says if Jesus is not alive then his witnesses are false witnesses.  That is, if we preach He is alive and He isn’t, then we are just liars.  Like telling people the easter bunny is real, when we know it isn’t, if we tell people Jesus is alive and He isn’t, we are just telling fables.  It becomes yet just another false hope.

But, HE IS ALIVE!  He did come forth from the tomb.  He was triumphant over death, hell and Satan.  That first of all Easter Sunday mornings the disciples came to the tomb sad and despondent to finish the task of burial.  But, their gloom turned to great joy.  They saw and heard the message, He is not here, He’s ALIVE.  No longer would death hold Him.

In the Book Romans Paul says this, “…declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead…” (Rom. 1:4)  God assured us that His Son was His Son by bringing Him out from among the dead ones.  He is ALIVE.  Praise His name.

Tags: Alive, bunny, chocolate, Christ, Easter, eggs, Hope, Jesus, Passover, resurrection, Risen, Sunday

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