Our timing and other Easter traditions are based on pagan rituals and mainly derived from the fertility goddess names Eostre. Christian missionaries in Europe used pagan rituals and the timing to sort of morph their holiday into our Christian celebration today. By using activities the people were already comfortable with, it allowed them to be a witness thru familiar activities and opened doors for communication.
Hunting eggs can be traced back to the Greeks and Egyptians who saw eggs as a sign of fertility and new life. They used the eggs in pagan celebrations and even hung them up in the temples. Christians again used this activity to relate and minister to people as certain colors were used to spread the Word; yellow for the resurrection, blue for love, and red for the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Easter Bunny comes from a German story of a woman who hid Easter eggs in her garden as treats. And one year as her children were searching for the eggs a rabbit happened to hop by leaving them to think he had left the eggs for them.
But what is Easter really? As a Christian, I celebrate Easter as it coincides with Christ's resurrection. Just to understand the real power of that, let's briefly look at what Easter means to me through Jesus' life.
Birth: I'm willing to bet that everyone reading this has been born from their mother into this world. Jesus was also born from his mother's womb into very humble beginnings. But from the beginning, he was destined to be special; "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."" - Luke 2:10-11
Life: We all know John 3:16; "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." But why did God send his son Jesus here to die for us? "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:17. My first son has not even been born yet and I cannot imagine what it would take for me to consider sacrificing him for someone else's life. I just don't see how you ignore a love like that, a love of a father to be willing to sacrifice his son for you and for me so that we wouldn't have to pay the ultimate price of sin which is death (Romans 6:23).
Death: Who reading this post though has died, been buried in a tomb or grave and risen 3 days later? You see, that's where Jesus' power was really demonstrated. People have beaten bad circumstances, poverty, broken bones, sickness, addiction, cancer, and other things. But who has beaten death?! Jesus. He did not come to Earth to make a Heaven or Hell, he was sent by God to give us a 'Get Out of Hell Free' card. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" - Ephesians 2:8.
Easter means so much more to me than rabbits, colorful eggs, jelly beans, and chocolate bunnies. It's a reminder of why I follow Christ. Because no one else has conquered death. Without the birth, there is no life. Without the life, there is no death. Without the death, there is no resurrection. Without his blood there is no salvation. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6. If you haven't already, make the choice this week, before He is risen, to follow Him.
#BestDecisionYouWillEverMake
Hunting eggs can be traced back to the Greeks and Egyptians who saw eggs as a sign of fertility and new life. They used the eggs in pagan celebrations and even hung them up in the temples. Christians again used this activity to relate and minister to people as certain colors were used to spread the Word; yellow for the resurrection, blue for love, and red for the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Easter Bunny comes from a German story of a woman who hid Easter eggs in her garden as treats. And one year as her children were searching for the eggs a rabbit happened to hop by leaving them to think he had left the eggs for them.
But what is Easter really? As a Christian, I celebrate Easter as it coincides with Christ's resurrection. Just to understand the real power of that, let's briefly look at what Easter means to me through Jesus' life.
Birth: I'm willing to bet that everyone reading this has been born from their mother into this world. Jesus was also born from his mother's womb into very humble beginnings. But from the beginning, he was destined to be special; "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."" - Luke 2:10-11
Life: We all know John 3:16; "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." But why did God send his son Jesus here to die for us? "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:17. My first son has not even been born yet and I cannot imagine what it would take for me to consider sacrificing him for someone else's life. I just don't see how you ignore a love like that, a love of a father to be willing to sacrifice his son for you and for me so that we wouldn't have to pay the ultimate price of sin which is death (Romans 6:23).
Death: Who reading this post though has died, been buried in a tomb or grave and risen 3 days later? You see, that's where Jesus' power was really demonstrated. People have beaten bad circumstances, poverty, broken bones, sickness, addiction, cancer, and other things. But who has beaten death?! Jesus. He did not come to Earth to make a Heaven or Hell, he was sent by God to give us a 'Get Out of Hell Free' card. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" - Ephesians 2:8.
Easter means so much more to me than rabbits, colorful eggs, jelly beans, and chocolate bunnies. It's a reminder of why I follow Christ. Because no one else has conquered death. Without the birth, there is no life. Without the life, there is no death. Without the death, there is no resurrection. Without his blood there is no salvation. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6. If you haven't already, make the choice this week, before He is risen, to follow Him.
#BestDecisionYouWillEverMake
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