Why the Celebration?
Resurrection Sunday is gaining momentum as the title for celebrating Jesus raising from the dead. It is more appropriate and sends the message of what the day is all about. Easter brings visions of colored eggs, bunnies, chicks, spring, etc. Truly, what does any of that have to do with the biggest miracle of all time?
I tend to think in terms of what we’re teaching children. Mine are grown, now with six grands, I feel more sensitive to the messages they hear.
When my three were little, Santa was only talked of in terms of something fun, not something real. My thought was: if I lie about a man who delivers gifts, why would they believe me about Jesus who they can’t see with their physical eyes. Children are concrete thinkers – the mixed messages of the world can leave them confused and untrusting. “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (1John 5:21 NLT)
It comes down to this: do we enjoy celebrating Easter because of the fun – or because of the Savior?
We tend to corrupt a lot of good things – Christmas was only about trees and gifts in the last couple centuries. Now the shopping and tunes start in September, maximizing the profits, forgetting the Savior as a babe. “And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12 NLT) Hmm, the sacred lost in the hustle.
Instead of pastel colors and bunny stories, maybe Easter can be all about the fact that Jesus died, rose from the grave, and now we get to live forever. I want my grandsons to know the Person and desire to follow Him – not remember baskets and candy.
I hunt eggs with one of my little guys at random times throughout the year for the fun of the hunt. I tell him plainly, when Resurrection Sunday nears, that the celebration is all about Jesus. It’s great to have fun, but if we’re setting aside a day because of Messiah, Christ, Savior – let’s make it plain we value how we celebrate.
“And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life.” (1John 5:20 NLT)
parisrenae 
“I want my grandsons to know the Person and desire to follow Him.” and that is my desire for my granddaughters. May the Lord grant each of us this desire!
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Amen! It’s all that really matters – grands and all our loved ones. The joy we know we want them to have. Happy Resurrection Day!
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It’s good to know and impart to the little ones in our family the reasons we celebrate Christmas and Easter. And it’s good to have family celebrations and sow into our natural relationships. I like the idea of hiding eggs throughout the year for fun and to separate it from Easter time, Paris.
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Yes it is – and they get such a kick just hunting for them – and at Easter the eggs aren’t as big a deal – it has worked well for us. Blessings as you celebrate our Risen Savior!
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Paris, I like the idea of calling Easter “Resurrection Sunday.” My husband would always put together fun baskets for our girls, but leading up to Easer, we also went through the Resurrection Eggs with them. Those mean so much more than the soccer- or Disney-themed Easter baskets you can find in the stores these days.
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Right there with you. It is ok to have fun – but so important it not overshadow something as important at Jesus’ Resurrection and the amazing gift we have received because of it. Blessings on your celebration!
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