EASTER

I know Easter is over but it’s still a subject well worth considering, so please bear with me. As you already know, Easter was early this year. Easter falls on the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox, which falls on March 20th. This year it was observed on the 23rd of March. The earliest Easter can fall on is the 22nd. That’s coming up in the year 2285. The last time Easter was held on the 23rd was in the year 1913. Some might remember that. The next time Easter will come on the 23rd is the year 2228. It’s a fairly safe bet that none of us will be alive to celebrate that.

On a more personal note, I was born on Easter 60 years ago on the 28th of March. My mother used to tell about her trip to the hospital. She was in a great deal of pain on her way to the hospital for her second child. She was convinced she was going to die. On her way to the hospital, through all her misery, she saw all the ladies dressed up in their pretty Easter outfits as they made their way to church.

In those 60 years since my birth, Easter has never fallen on the 28th of March. In fact, it won’t until the year 2027. Provided God gives me that many years, I must wait until I’m 79 years old to celebrate my birthday and Easter on the same day.

I’m not real thrilled about admitting I’m 60. The reason I think 60 sounds so old is because my father retired when he was 62. I have no such plans.

But my birthday, or the date of Easter, is not what it’s all about. It’s about our Savior Jesus Christ walking out of the grave, conquering death. He alone becomes the one to see victory over the grave. We read in Scripture of others coming to life after death, but not under their own power. Only Christ walked out of the grave without the aid of others. In I Corinthians 15:3,4 we read, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Sadly, the world in general has no concept of what Easter is all about. I often use clipart (pictures) in bulletins or on other material. I find it almost impossible to find Easter clipart that depicts Christ and His resurrection. Even on that marked as “Christian Clipart” I am able to find no more than a picture or two showing Christ or the empty tomb. Easter is all about bunnies, lilies, and colored eggs. Even many churches use Easter only to sell the idea of spring symbolizing “new beginnings,” and “new life” more than a resurrected Christ. When the women came to the tomb on that first resurrection morning they heard, “Fear not; for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen.” Matthew 28:5,6.

We must never lose sight of the fact that without a resurrected Christ we have no more hope than the atheist. We read in I Corinthians 15:13,14, “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” The reason I know I will live for eternity is because I have a Savoir that has conquered death, allowing us to now say along with Paul, “O death, where is your sting. “O grave, where is your victory?” I Corinthians 15:55.

For those truly born again, through the blood of Christ, death has no lasting hold. Praise His Wonderful Name!