Special to 0-A News
From Walter Albritton,
Senior Pastor Trinity UMC
For April 1, 1999
Once again we celebrate Easter!
No day is quite so special to Christians as Easter. Even Christmas
must take second place to Easter. The resurrection of Jesus is
simply of greater significance than his birth.
Yet the true meaning of Easter
is shrouded in confusion and paganism. For multitudes "Easter"
is simply an adjective used by merchants to describe eggs, rabbits,
baskets, lilies, shoes, dresses, and suits. Many children will
hunt "Easter eggs" on Saturday and wear their "Easter
shoes" to churches filled with "Easter lilies."
All this despite the fact that Easter has absolutely nothing to do with bunny rabbits or Easter eggs. Still I must admit that it is difficult for me to resist the temptation to purchase one of those delicious milk-chocolate bunny rabbits. I am a sucker for chocolate any season of the year. Easter always occurs in the spring of the year because the death and resurrection of Jesus occurred in the spring, at the annual time of the Jewish Passover. And because Easter occurs in the springtime, it is easy to understand how we began to associate Easter with the budding of flowers, the new life of nature.
It is indeed a delightful time of the year. Winter is past and
the earth bursts forth with the glorious beauty of green leaves,
spring flowers, and budding trees. New life is everywhere as what
appeared dead comes suddenly to life.
But what happened to Jesus on
Easter morning was much more than the changing cycles of nature.
His resurrection was not like the spring resurrection of flowers.
In fact his resurrection was entirely different. Flowers born
in spring will die. Next spring new flowers may come from the
seed or bulbs that have lain dormant in winter. But as much as
we may delight in the beauty that spring brings, this process
of nature is not what Christians mean by the resurrection of the
dead.
The dead body of Jesus did not "sprout" buds from which a new person would grow. God simply infused life into his dead body and he was suddenly alive again. The tomb was opened so the women and the disciples could look inside; the Risen Christ was already out! He had conquered death! The grave could not hold him!
Beautiful flowers and butterflies are wonderful gifts of God.
We can enjoy their exquisite beauty and even consider them as
expressions of God's love to us. If we like chocolate we can enjoy
a chocolate bunny this weekend. But we can do so without including
all these Easter parasites in the same breath with the resurrection
of Jesus. And remember that butterflies and bunny rabbits cannot
save you from your sins!
Some learned thinkers would have us believe that the grave is
the end. Beyond the death of the human body, there is nothing
more, only dust. The resurrection of Jesus was God's way of saying,
"Don't be afraid. There is more, plenty more. In fact, so
much more that you cannot imagine in your wildest dreams what
a wonderful eternal life I have available to you - if you will
only trust my Son!"
So enjoy the wonders of bulbs, seeds, and cocoons. Celebrate the
coming of spring. But remember that the resurrection of Jesus
has done something for you that flowers and butterflies can never
do. His resurrection has opened the gates of heaven to you and
offered you blessed hope that you will see your loved ones again
when the Risen Savior welcomes you to your eternal home.
That's the faith which Easter people may enjoy when the true meaning
of the resurrection is embraced. And that's why most of our churches
are filled on Easter Sunday. We simply have to raise our voices
in grateful celebration of this shining truth: "Up from the
grave He arose!" Believe me, it's true; He is alive!
Glory Hallelujah!