Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It is a month-long celebration! Not many acknowledge the Christian reason behind the celebrations, that the Lord came into a human body to show off God’s love for those who inhabit the earth. But those who do acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior actually enjoy the season with tremendous fervor.
Easter for some reason hasn’t gotten the same recognition, or the same festive feel. People acknowledge the Day, but not even as a whole week much less a month of celebrating. Perhaps it is because Christmas has been renamed by so many — Kwanza, Hanukah, Winter Solstice… Everybody can find something to celebrate at that time of year.
But Easter is different. It varies with the timing of things, sometimes in April, sometimes in March, sometimes before Passover, sometimes after, maybe coinciding with the start of spring… Yet everybody that says “Easter” knows what it stands for. The word Christmas can mean a thousand different things to many different peoples, even to each individual person.
Easter only has one meaning: The resurrection of God’s Son, the King of the Redeemed, the Only True Witness of God’s love to the universe. Oh sure, the devil has attempted to cover over this event with Easter egg hunts and cute little bunnies. But as a friend told me, it’s not about the bunny but about the lamb. So in my heart I celebrate the Lamb with a smile every time someone displays a bunny.
My favorite verse in all of Luke’s Gospel: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Jesus is alive and well and living as Intercessor for our benefit. Because of this current role of His, He stays busy all the time. He may live in heaven now, but He stays busy with the things down here on earth. He’s constantly working to support His people and to gain more celebrants for His Father’s banquet table.
He will rest soon — when He gets His kingdom. Then we can all rest and enjoy His presence and His smile, and each other too. As Amy Grant sang in her song: In a little while we’ll be with the Father. In a little while we’ll be home forever. In a little while…
God's Word on That 