If you have done any sort of shopping in the last few weeks, you will have noticed that the shelves are filled with chocolate eggs and all sorts of treats that are tied in with peopleís celebration of Easter.
Along with all the chocolate eggs, come special family meals and Easter vacations. Now, donít get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with these sorts of things.
The sad thing though, is you donít see the real reason for Easter in the first place. There is no mention, no hint of why we are to be celebrating Easter, itís just advertised as a good time.
But Easter is so much more!
While the world celebrates Easter, it often only adds temporary happiness to peopleís lives, but stops short of meeting the deepest needs of your life. Now, Iím all for a good time, but having only a good time can leave us empty because it does not address what we really need, deep down. And that is where the true meaning of Easter comes in. Easter is really about Jesus, who decided one day to give up all that was rightfully His in heaven and came to Earth because He knew what you really needed. He knew that you need forgiveness.
Letís face it, every day you and I blow it. In the course of the day we make mistakes, some of them minor, but some of these mistakes have an affect on our relationships, how we feel about ourselves. Sometimes they are so big we canít even forgive ourselves.
Or what about the times we go through life thumbing our noses at God who wants to do nothing more than to love us and provide for us. At that first Easter, Jesus hung on a cross, dying for the sins of every person. On that cross, He looked through time and saw you, He saw me and said, ìFather, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34).î And we really donít, even though we think we do.
You see, Jesus did something for you that day. He willingly went to a cross, He allowed Himself to be mocked, to be beaten, to be executed, to take upon Himself the punishment for your sin, so that you wouldnít have to.
Easter is about remembering that in the throws of everything that stinks in our lives, Jesus paid the penalty for it all and offers grace to come up on our lives life a golden sunrise, lighting up our darkest day. Easter is about Jesus dying to fill your shame-filled days with grace.
If you ask Him, Heíll take your guilt away. All He is waiting for is for you to ask Him. We sin. He is the Saviour. We need grace. Jesus can give it. So why not ask Jesus the same question a thief on a cross next to Jesus that first Easter asked Him? ìRemember me when you enter your kingdom.î
You see, many people think they will get into heaven just because they are good. No. We get into heaven because we ask... we ask Jesus to be our Saviour and meet our needs. To stand by us.
Max Lucado tells a story about Joe Allbright, fair and fearless west Texas rancher the area where Max was raised. One of Joeís sons, James and Max were good friends in high school. They played football together. One Friday night after an out of town game, James invited Max to stay at his house. By the time they reached the property, it was past midnight. James hadnít told his father he was bringing anyone home. Mr. Allbright didnít know Max or his car, so when Max stepped out of car in front of house, he popped on the floodlight and aimed it at Maxís face. Through the glare Max saw the block of a man and heard a deep voice, ìWho are you?î Max gulped and started to say his name but didnít.
Finally James said, ìItís OK dad. Thatís my friend Max. Heís with me.î
The light went off and Mr. Allbright opened door.
ìCome on in, boys. Food is in the kitchen.î
What changed? What made Mr. Allbright put on the light? One fact. He knew His son. Maxís safety had nothing to do with accomplishments/offerings. He knew manís son. Period. Easter is about knowing Jesus, period. Itís about receiving what He did for you on the cross. So this Easter, donít cheapen the season with chocolate eggs. It is so much more!
This Faith Matters column is brought to you by Tri-Community Baptist Church in Beiseker.
