The Best Gift Ever!

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was burried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Cor. 15:3-4

Today is somewhat like Christmas in that you have to wade through all the fluff and tradition to get to the real significance of the day. In typical fashion my kids are all about what the Easter Bunny is bringing them, and when is the easter egg hunt going to be already!? And sure, we have just come from church where we're all reminded of what this particular Sunday truly signifies. But is one day a year enough?

It's not about eggs, or rabbits, or chocolate, or those nasty Peeps. But it's also not simply that Jesus rose from the dead - though that is amazing itself. No, the significance is even deeper, even more profound, because were it not for the empty tomb, our faith is meaningless. The whole foundation of our faith rests on the 'hope' of that empty tomb. That Jesus conquered the grave and therefore gave us the offer of eternal life and the truth of the Kingdom to come. Had they found a body in the tomb after three days, Jesus would have been nothing more than a good teacher at best; a liar and madman at worst.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Rom. 8:11

It's not about the eggs. And it's much more than death and resurrection itself. I mean Lazarus was raised, yet we don't worship him. While we were still sinners, the Father allowed his only son to be a sacrifice for our sins so that we could have the free gift and offering of eternal life and fullness that only Christ can offer. And they even throw in the Holy Spirit to help guide us along the way. The Spirit powerful enough to raise a man from the dead. Oh, how much he could do through the lives of the living if we'd just take hold of that truth.

We hope that you had a wonderful Easter that extended well beyond an hour at church. We hope that you enjoyed and afternoon with family, friends, and love ones. And of "first importance", a hope that you thanked the One who, though we knew him not, nor deserved his gift, died so that we could simply have the offer of the Kingdom of Heaven.