What is the meaning of Easter? Does Easter means Easter eggs and bunnies? Easter unfortunately is similar to Christmas where the true meaning of Easter is not known to many. Easter is not about Easter eggs and bunnies and Christmas is not about Christmas trees and gifts. I have written articles on the true meaning of Christmas for the past few years and now it is the same for Easter.
Christians celebrate Easter to remember two significant events that changed the world. These two events are the core foundations of Christianity. These two events are the main focus of the Bible. This is the reason Christians celebrate Easter and Christmas.
We are sinful people. All of us have sinned against God and no one of us is righteous.
Romans 3:10-11
10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
We are lying to ourselves if we say we have no sin. There is no concept of small sin or big sin in Christianity thus it does not matter in Christianity whether it is a small sin such as telling lies or a big sin such as murder, rape and others. We cannot save ourselves from our sins because we are not perfect. In Romans 6:23, it says the punishment for our sins is death.
Romans 6:23
English Standard Version (ESV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Accessed on 19th April 2014: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+6%3A23&version=ESV
Accessed on 19th April 2014: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+6%3A23&version=ESV
However, someone did come and save us from our past, present and future sins once for all. He is the only one who is perfect and has no sin. He was sent by God to die on the cross for our sins so that we can have eternal life. He died on our behalf and this means we do not have to die for our sins.
John 3:16
English Standard Version (ESV)
For God So Loved the World
16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should notperish but have eternal life.
He not only died for us, but He rose again on the 3rd day and this means that He has conquered sin and death. He has freed us from the bondage of sin. As a response, we want to serve him and become more and more like Him. He is Jesus.
Christians remember Jesus' death on the cross on Good Friday, and then on the third day, that is Easter Sunday, we celebrates his victory our sin and death. His victory means we are freed from the bondage of sin. We know we are not perfect but we know that through the Holy Spirit, we have the hope of becoming more and more like Jesus. We can be better persons throughout our lives.
Christmas trees and gifts together with Easter eggs and business are man-made and meant for commercial success. We can buy Christmas presents and have a reunion or gathering with our relatives and friends but we must know the true meaning of Christmas, that is the birth of Jesus Christ. We must also know that Easter is not about chocolates but about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, we must be thankful for this wonderful gift of love from God. We remember his death and we celebrate his resurrection during Easter.
Ephesians 2:8-9
New International Version (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Accessed on 19th April 2014: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A8-9&version=NIV
Here are some very good songs that we can listen to during this Easter season:
Behold The Lamb
There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
We Are The Reason
Although we usually sing this during Christmas, the chorus gives us the reason Jesus came to die on the cross.
Mighty is the Power of the Cross
We can sing this tomorrow:
Come On and Celebrate
Overcome
Cheers,
Roger TJ Koo
