BY STEVE DUNN
Our culture has a way of co-opting Christian holidays. Note that Christians co-opt secular holidays, too, like Mother's Day. This is not a polemic against the subversion of faith. It is just a gentle reminder to everyone, but especially Christians, why we celebrate Easter.
People who are unfamiliar with Christianity tend to focus on Christmas as the key holy day of our faith. The reality is that Christmas is secondary to Easter. Christmas is the season of Immanuel--God with us. Or as one commentator has said, "God who is for man." Easter is the season of the Savior--God with reconciles man to Himself. Christmas is when God takes on flesh and moves into the neighborhood. Easter is when God slams the door on death and says we will dwell with Him for eternity. Christmas is when God identifies with us. Easter is when God declares that we shall be like Him. Christmas reminds us that we have not been forgotten or abandoned by God. Easter is when God comes to dwell in and through us forever.
Christmas is about the Child who is born who is the hope of the ages. Easter is about the Liberating King who frees us from our sin.
Frankly, if the Easter bunny finds it necessary ride on Jesus' coattails, he's in good company. Humanity does more than ride on Jesus' coattails, it lives in His righteousness.
So this Easter, with March Madness into its Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, with college students invading the beaches of the Gulf Coast, with our children getting a sugar high from all that candy; let us remember that Easter is for Jesus and is about Jesus--Jesus who is alive!
People who are unfamiliar with Christianity tend to focus on Christmas as the key holy day of our faith. The reality is that Christmas is secondary to Easter. Christmas is the season of Immanuel--God with us. Or as one commentator has said, "God who is for man." Easter is the season of the Savior--God with reconciles man to Himself. Christmas is when God takes on flesh and moves into the neighborhood. Easter is when God slams the door on death and says we will dwell with Him for eternity. Christmas is when God identifies with us. Easter is when God declares that we shall be like Him. Christmas reminds us that we have not been forgotten or abandoned by God. Easter is when God comes to dwell in and through us forever.
Christmas is about the Child who is born who is the hope of the ages. Easter is about the Liberating King who frees us from our sin.
Frankly, if the Easter bunny finds it necessary ride on Jesus' coattails, he's in good company. Humanity does more than ride on Jesus' coattails, it lives in His righteousness.
So this Easter, with March Madness into its Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, with college students invading the beaches of the Gulf Coast, with our children getting a sugar high from all that candy; let us remember that Easter is for Jesus and is about Jesus--Jesus who is alive!
(c) 2013 by Stephen L Dunn
Readers, please note--this is my Monday Morning Reflection for Holy Week 2013
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