The Real Meaning of Easter

At Christmas time we often hear of people talking about the ‘real’ meaning of Christmas. We see slogans like “Keep Christ in Christmas” & “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”. This is done so that children and adults will remember that Christmas is not just about Santa, gifts and decorations but we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour - Jesus.

Have you noticed though we do not have the same slogans for Easter. There is no - Jesus is the Reason for the Easter Season, or Keep the Empty Tomb in Easter. Why is that? Is it because we figure that everyone knows the ‘real’ meaning of Easter? Is it because the Easter Bunny doesn’t get as much focus as Santa so we figure the children know that there is more to Easter than the bunny? Or have we taken it for granted that people know the real meaning behind Good Friday and Easter Sunday because of all the Holy week services?

A couple Sundays ago I had the opportunity to talk with my Sunday school class about Easter. Several of the children are 4 years old, one was 6 and the other 7 I was curious to know their thoughts and ideas about Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Why do we as a church celebrate Easter? What happened on Good Friday? Aside from the Easter bunny what happens on Easter Sunday morning? I was a little shocked and saddened to discover that the children who were there that day did not know what happened on Good Friday and did not know much about Easter Sunday. It was an eye opening time for me.

We take it for granted I think that because we know about the Cross and the empty tomb that the children know it as well. But many of them don’t. And for many they will grow up never really knowing the ‘real’ meaning of Easter. Sadly our faith in God is not something that we can just pass on to our families. They have to learn about Him themselves. But if we don’t teach them how will they know? If they never attend Sunday school or a church service how will they learn about God and His love for them? As adults who attended church as children we can make the educated choice on whether or not we want to now attend church, believe in God, etc. But what about the children who never attend a Sunday school or a church service? How will they choose when they have never been taught? I think those are important questions that we all need to think about and answer for ourselves in these days.

Whether you are single like me or have children or even grandchildren we all need to know and share the real meaning of Easter. Jesus loved each of us so much that He was willing to die on a cross, was buried, and rose again 3 days later. And that by believing that He died for our sins and asking His forgiveness we all may have eternal life.

May we share with our family and friends this Easter the ‘Real’ meaning of Easter! God bless!!

Thought to Ponder

I remember when I was in University and whenever I would come home for summer vacation I always looked forward to seeing some of the Officers who would be home on vacation as well. One officer in particular at some point during the summer would ask me, "So Jennifer, how's your soul?" It was usually asked on a Sunday nite as we were waiting in the lobby to sake the officer's hand as we were heading out the door. My response was usually something like 'good' or 'great' or 'something along those lines... It wasn't a question that stirred a theological debate it was simple and straight to the point.

As I was thinking about this tonite I thought about how that simple question stayed with me through the years. This person didn't know the challenges I faced, the burdens I carried, how my week went, if I was close to God or walking far off... He just cared enough to ask 'How's your soul?' A simple but powerful witness!

Sometimes we feel we can't witness because we don't know what to say or how we would answer questions if asked. Why not try the question "How's your soul?" For someone who is struggling in their walk with God it may be the means of starting a conversation that could help bring them back on the right path. For someone who isn't a born again Christian it could be the means of explaining the gospel story and to a born again believer it could be a means of encouraging them in their journey of faith as they share what God is doing in their lives. The possibilities are endless!

So tonite I ask you, my friends who read my blog from time to time, how is your soul?