More to Easter than Meets the Eye?

By Pastor Eric

What is it about Easter that is so special to us? I don’t mean “us” as in the Christian realm or as in the body of Christ, but rather to us as a human race. For example, why is it that in our culture today, more people go to church on Easter Sunday than any other Sunday throughout the year? Do you think it’s about tradition? Is it just something that culturally is expected of people to do? Like actually throwing your trash away instead of pitching it out your car window as you drive down the highway? Or could it be that to the average person, deep down inside they know that Jesus really did walk this earth, die a horrible death and conquer the grave? These are things that I have spent far too many hours thinking about. I wonder if we (and now I’m talking about the body of Christ) even really get it. Do I? Do I fully understand that the ONLY thing on this earth that I truly DESERVE is hell? Honestly, I probably don’t. Because when it comes to every day living, it’s far easier (culturally) to give into this trap of thinking that I deserve something … anything! Culturally we think that we deserve a nicer car or a bigger house or cooler clothes or faster service or even just a break because we’ve earned all of it somehow …

Apart from Him … we’d have nothing. We deserve hell. We are all sinners in need of a savior. It is only because of Him that we have anything.

Yet we continue on about our lives. Getting caught up in culture and tradition and what we think we deserve.

I can’t stop thinking about all of this and comparing it to what God’s Word says in 1 Peter 2 about how we should live our lives.

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross
 so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” (v. 21-25. emphasis added)

Does your every day life look anything like that?? Mine doesn’t … but I’m so grateful for His example and His sacrifice because without it … I wouldn’t even stand a chance.