Pastel attire, stuffed bunnies, and chocolate eggs. Most of us probably experienced all of the above earlier this week on Easter Sunday. I’m not quite sure of the history behind the trends and traditions, but something about Easter brings out the best of seersucker suits and Easter basket goodies. And this abundance of sweets and specialities expands to our churches. Think about your church service on Sunday. Were more people in attendance than usual? Did you see anyone who you hadn’t seen since Christmas? Did it seem like a special service perhaps with a few extra “bells and whistles”?
Now don’t get me wrong. Easter Sunday is a big deal. It deserves all the pastels, all the overflowing Easter baskets, all the Reese’s peanut butter eggs. We celebrate the resurrection of our King, Jesus Christ. And that my friend, is worth celebrating big.
But I want us to consider the significance of Easter, of Resurrection Sunday, for our everyday lives. Why does Easter matter? And what does Easter mean? If someone asked you questions similar to those, how would you answer them? Would you be able to answer them?
We can all probably affirm that Easter isn’t about bunnies, baskets, and pastels. Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. So what did Easter mean at the time of Christ? What does it mean for us today? And why does it matter for our future?