How do we commemorate Christ’s resurrection? The day on which he rose is not ‘Easter Sunday’, but more appropriately Resurrection Sunday. The idea of the ‘Easter egg’ and the ‘Easter bunny’ are just two of the myriad pagan concepts that have infiltrated into the church. ‘Easter’ celebrations were to do with the pagan spring festivals, the egg representing life and the bunny representing fertility.
As Christians we are not to intermingle these concepts (no matter how appealingly they are presented or justified) with the Resurrection. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life”. He also said “if you abide in me you will bear much fruit; without me you can do nothing”. We do not need the bunny and the egg. Even as ‘symbols’, they fall terribly short in depicting Christian truth. Our belief is in life in and through the person and the work of Jesus, the Son of God. The truth is that Jesus is the source of our life and our abundance. Nothing can take his place. This is what we believe and this is what we teach.
The gospels tell us that Jesus was crucified, that he died, and that on the third day he rose from the dead “in accordance with the scriptures”. Over a period of some weeks, Jesus appeared to his followers from time to time. He appeared to the disciples (Thomas being absent). Later when the unbelieving Thomas was together with them he showed him the imprint of the nails in his hands and feet. Thomas then believed and bowed down and worshipped him. He appeared to two disciples on their way to Emmaus. He appeared to his brother James. He appeared to over five hundred at another time. The disciples were witnesses of his ascension into heaven. The Christian belief in the truth of the Resurrection has stood the test of the centuries. Every argument against the resurrection of Christ has been refuted by the sheer weight of the evidence in favour of it. Ours is not to doubt but to believe.
The resurrection of Christ is of cardinal importance to the Christian believer. Paul says “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins’ (1 Cor.15: 17). The point is that Christianity is a gospel. It is good news about how God sent his Son to be our Saviour. Christ’s resurrection is the assurance that our salvation has been accomplished. One day all men will rise too – some to everlasting judgment whilst some to eternal life. Thank God for your eternal life!
Content By:Pastor Joseph Rodriguez http://www.kerysso.org/public/page110.htm
Photo By: Praise media library
