Beyond the Bunny
1 Corinthians 15
What does Easter mean for you? If you go to church, then I'm guessing everyone you know there is making a huge deal out of Easter. Special services. Communion. Cool banners with great graphics. Easter egg hunts. All kinds of neat stuff.
But why is it that the church tries so hard to get people to come on Easter? And why is it that Easter is probably the one time of year when everyone - even those who really don't believe in God at all - go to church?
It is because what happened at Easter is the fountain of our faith. This is what a man named Paul said. Paul was a skeptic of Christianity until he met the Lord in a very dramatic way while traveling on a busy Roman highway. He became one of the most passionate evangelists in the history of the church.
Paul said that if what happened on Easter--Jesus Christ rising from the dead--than we are "of all men most miserable." This is how we would say it today.
If Easter is just a nice religious holiday with candy and bunnies and family and Jesus Christ really didn't rise again from the dead on the third day--then Christians are a really sorry lot. We might as well pack our Bibles and hymnals up and go home.
But the truth is--Jesus Christ did rise again from the dead. It's a historical fact. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul lays out the evidence. 500 witnesses saw Jesus Christ in the flesh after he had died and been buried in the tomb. You can't get 500 people to agree on anything, but they all testified that indeed Jesus Christ was alive after He wasn't supposed to have been.
Let's bottom line this. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history. It's the most important event in your life and in mine.
The events at Easter are the only source of hope in this world. Thru Jesus Christ shed blood on the cross, his payment for your sin and for mine, and his resurrection from the dead give you and me new life. Eternal life forever, in only you believe (John 3:16: John 6:47; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Because of Easter, you and I don't have to be chained with the shackles of sin. We're free to live the life God intended. And one day we'll live forever in a place called Heaven, created just for our pleasure.
Because of Easter, we can walk with the God of the Universe as if He is our friend.
So, this Easter, don't let it be all about the bunny. Stop, worship the One who gave you life. Jesus Christ.
Daniel Darling is an author and pastor with a passion for young people. He is the author of Teen People of the Bible, a 100-day devotional for teens. Visit him at www.danieldarling.com.
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