March 19, 2008
When do you start thinking about Easter? For me, it begins when Target rolls out the Cadbury eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies (yum). With that first realization that Easter is around the corner - which is provided by marketing gurus - we are also compelled to think past spiritual significance and directly to planning another party. Anytime we are provided a reason to party, we spend money and cause the market to rise. And, we are very obliging, aren't we?
The happy feelings evoked by bright colors, a life-sized bunny and candy galore set our minds to thoughts of a party, shopping for a new outfit, eating like piglets, and giving the kids a reason to run around in the backyard. for the sake of candy-filled Easter eggs on this particular occasion. Many consider Easter to be fulfilling by these activities alone - well, at least until the sugar high wears off and the pastels are removed from retail aisles.
There are others who, although excited by the candy celebration - who isn't? - are also energized by fulfilling a tradition of attending church as a family. I know I love this too: I can't wait to attend Easter service with my family on Sunday. However, as exciting as family time admittedly is, with the addition of Easter egg hunts and candy, even these alone are not enough.
Sugar highs and family fun last only so long before we remember that our needs are greater and ongoing. Temporary happiness generated by food and festivity just won't cut it. We don't need happiness, which lasts only as long as the circumstances. What we need is joy, consistent comfort and gladness provided by the Holy Spirit, regardless of circumstances.
It is only because of Christ's sacrifice, that we are fully able to enjoy anything without guilt or shame. To celebrate life with meaningful fulfillment and purpose, we must zoom in on the spiritual significance of Easter. We are, after all, created with a need for relationship with God - and the only way to get there is by the atonement of a Savior.
Thankfully for us, salvation is here! Easter is a celebration of God's reconciliation with us through His son, Jesus Christ. And, because of this, we can boldly approach the throne of God for grace and mercy.
Most of us know the Easter story: the Last Supper, Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas and Christ's arrest, the trial before the Sanhedrin and then Pilate, the crown of thorns and robe, lashings from the cat-of-nine-tails, carrying the cross to His crucifixion, His death, burial, and resurrection! What is the spiritual significance behind these happenings, beginning far beyond Good Friday and leading up to the resurrection?
As Christ's disciples, our commission is to spread the Gospel message to the lost. Easter is the Gospel story that we want to share with others. In order to be confident in sharing its spiritual significance, let us revisit it ourselves, beginning with our great need and its fulfillment as a result of Christ on the cross:
- We are sinful. Sin separates us from our perfect God.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in [ Or through] Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).The will of God was reconciliation between Himself and the world.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).Because of God's just nature, reconciliation was only possible thru atonement of our sins.
"God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:25-26).Atonement is only possible by perfection, solely found in Christ.
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 Peter 1:18-19).By His death, Christ became a merciful, faithful high priest in service to God.
"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38).By the grace of God - and by the cross - Christ tasted death for everyone.
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9).By conquering death, He destroyed the devil who held the power of death.
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14).He freed us from the slavery of fear of death.
". (to) free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:15).Now, we are to live freely!
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5).Thru Christ, we are more than conquerors!
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:35&37).
Printed with permission from:
Editor Sarah Guldalian
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center
St. Louis, MO 63141