Easter is another one of those holidays that were confusing to me as a kid. Being Catholic we had just gone through Lent, a time when we were told to give up something we really liked for 40 days. Normally for us kids that would be candy. I was never sure why we had to give something up, that part was never really explained very well but it was what we did. At the beginning of Lent we had ashes applied to our forehead, I didn’t know why we did that either.
A week before Easter, was Palm Sunday. Now that I understood to be the commemoration of the day Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. Each year at church they would give out palm leaves. I guess that is what they were. We normally let those dry out and then make crosses. I hate to keep saying it, but I didn’t know why we did that either. Finally came Good Friday. Most years we spent from Noon to 3:00 PM in church, the hours Jesus hung on the cross. During that time when I was an altar boy, I spent a good part of those hours on my knees. The hours went by slowly, I was never sure what to do. I had no real concept of the cross or Jesus sacrifice. It just seemed like a brutal thing to commemorate. I was always glad when that time was over.
Saturday night we decorated Easter eggs. My mother got one of those PAAS kits. You would mix water, vinegar and one of the colored tablets. Sometimes we would write our name on the egg first with a wax crayon. When the egg was colored the name could be read. If we were really daring dip one half the egg in one color and the other half in another. I don’t know if they still have those kits today but if they do, I bet kids are still having fun. I know after all these years I still remember and have fond memories of it.
When Easter arrived, it was almost anti-climatic because it seemed to be more about jelly beans and chocolate bunnies then about the risen Christ. Yes, we did attend church and there was a special service but once it was over, we spent the rest of the day making up for all the lost candy days during lent. I probably ingested enough sugar on Easter to keep me buzzing for weeks. A big ham dinner and more candy and colored hard-boiled eggs! How did we survive it?
Looking back, I guess the true meaning of all of it was lost on me. The ancient practices, myths and pagan celebrations held no meaning to me. I do not mean this as an insult to Christians that still celebrate the Easter season in this way. As long as this time is a way to draw you closer to Jesus, his death and resurrection then I hope you feel blessed today. For me it is not about the season or even the day we call Easter. It is about Jesus crucified, “. he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2: 7-8) It is about Jesus our resurrection, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11: 25-26) Easter is a celebration of your and my salvation, the culmination of God’s plan of rescue for this lost planet. It has nothing to do with Easter bunnies or colorful eggs.
So today I am celebrating, but we did not color any eggs, or do I have hands full of jelly beans or even a chocolate egg. Today my celebration is all about the hope I never knew until I was met by the risen Savior. He gave me the hope of his soon coming! That is my joy and my celebration today. I think this song says it best:
We Have this Hope
We have this hope that burns within our heart,
Hope in the coming of the Lord.
We have this faith that Christ alone imparts,
Faith in the promise of His Word.
We believe the time is here,
When the nations far and near
Shall awake, and shout and sing
Hallelujah! Christ is King!
We have this hope that burns within our heart,
Hope in the coming of the Lord.
We are united in Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are united in His love.
Love for the waiting people of the world,
People who need our Savior’s love.
Soon the heav’ns will open wide,
Christ will come to claim His bride,
All the universe will sing
Hallelujah! Christ is King!
We have this hope this faith, and God’s great love,
We are united in Christ.
So Happy Easter you all! Jesus is risen and he is coming back soon! Hallelujah!
Blessings,
John
4/21/19
