Happy Easter!!! Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.
Did you ever wonder why? Is it for more people to go to Church, like at Christmas (not a bad thing)? Was His objective for people to have an opportunity to dress up in their new colorful, spring outfits? Or maybe it’s the family gatherings or candy for the kids (and adults)? Why Easter? Why did Jesus rise from the dead?
I’m not suggesting that celebration is a bad thing, especially as related to Easter. Celebration, whether for spiritual reasons or not, can be good. It brings people together. It not only creates community, but enthusiasm for what just occurred. It allows us to recognize others for their accomplishments. We can aspire to greater things, witnessing what others achieve.
Just Another Holiday
I used to treat Easter and Christmas much like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day…time off with family and friends, for rest and relaxation, but nothing really more. Although I grew up Catholic, overtime Christmas and Easter had lost their real meaning. Instead, they were about the gifts, celebration, and time off rather than our Lord and Savior.
To know my story is to know that I had my conversion (some would say reversion since I’ve always been Catholic, never missing Sunday Mass) back in 2006, for the first time experiencing the love of Christ. When something that profound happens to you (at least to me), you start to pay attention, wanting to learn more.
Lessons I’ve Learned
Here’s what I’ve learned…
- The “why” of Easter isn’t for dressing up, candy, or family gatherings, although all good
- God loves each and every one of us so much, that He gave us His only begotten Son
- Jesus died a torturous death that He didn’t deserve, to save us from the torment we do deserve
- Jesus rose from the dead so that we can live in His glory
The Reason for the Season
That glory gives us HOPE in a world of death and destruction, of sin and suffering. Satan is trying his hardest and tragedy is a bound. If we’re honest, we all have our hurts and wounds, those things that we suffer with, often in the silence of our hearts. Related specifically to Jesus’ resurrection, early in Luke, Chapter 24, it says, “they found the stone rolled away from the tomb”. Likewise, there is no stone that God can’t roll away in our lives. Nothing is so great, that God can’t help us with it, transform us through it. We just need to say “yes” to His Son, Jesus Christ.
God loves you more than you’ll ever know, no matter what you’ve ever done. He made you with a specific purpose, special gifts and talents. God made you (all of us) for Greatness!!! The hope of Christ is the reason for Easter. So is the glory of God in our lives. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly”. He did that through His death and resurrection….that’s the “why” of Easter. Thank God!!!
Having read the above, what does Easter mean to you. Please share your thoughts or comments with me at Mark@MarkJosephMinistries.com.
God Bless you on your Path to Peace, Joy, and Fulfillment!!!
Mark Joseph