Christian reflections on Easter

28/3/2013

Imagine over 2 billion people. It’s enough to make me feel dizzy, roughly a third of the world’s total population, Christians all over the globe marking a very significant event this weekend. Easter. But what does Easter mean for Christians? Why is it so important? How is it different to a colourful, pagan, fertility festival marked by chocolate, rabbits and eggs?

At the heart of the Christian Easter is a cross, a symbol used by Christians to highlight the centre-point of their faith. The cross is a reminder of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified on a cross 2,000 years ago. It’s a shocking symbol, an instrument of Roman torture and agonising death. It draws our attention to a God-man-saviour, prepared to give his life for us.

That’s where it gets hard. What if the biblical account is true? Can I dare myself to believe it? What if Jesus really was the Son of God? Could he really love someone as messed up as me? I can only draw one conclusion. If this story is true, the cross cries out in the starkest possible terms that no matter who we are or what we have done, we really matter to God.

And there is more hope. Easter Sunday marks an equally remarkable event. This Jesus who died is raised by God. Miraculously, he is brought back to life and, what is more, promises us life over death by trusting in him. He offers us light, life and hope in the midst and beyond the dark deaths and despair we may face in life, psychological, emotional and physical.

So that’s where I place my faith. Not in my weak and inconsistent efforts to be a good person, a clever person, an interesting or adventurous person. I know what I’m really like inside. Amazingly, God is never disillusioned with me because he never had any illusions in the first place. I place my faith in Jesus. If the Bible is true, he truly deserves my life.

14 Comments

Yellow Shed Girl

28/3/2013 03:16:10 pm

The honest answer is God knows you more than you know yourself Nick and that is OK, coz He created you, just the way you are :)
And God is not disillusioned because He created who and what you are..illusions don't come into it..there is no fear in perfect love.
Go well this Easter Nick

Nick Wright

28/3/2013 05:10:45 pm

Hi Yellow Shed Girl and thanks for your reflections. May you know God's deep peace and hope this Easter time. Nick

Diana Brown

28/3/2013 05:08:50 pm

Nick, very humble reflection and I am most touched by your sincerity. I would offer you only one gift, one you may even be familiar with, however, I find it very suitable here with us today. It is taken from Luke 17:20-21 and while I am not a Christian, I find it to be of considerable comfort: For indeed the Kingdom of God is within you. Peace be with you and all you love in this special holiday time.

28/3/2013 05:18:34 pm

Hi Diana and thanks for such heart warming feedback. Thank you too for the gift of those words from Luke's gospel. It reminded me of some words in Acts 17 where, after describing all sorts of amazing things that God has done, Paul comments, 'God did this so that people would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.' Peace to you too this Easter time. Nick

Rich Geisel link

31/3/2013 03:38:22 am

Nicely reflected Nick,

I am reminded each Easter that Christ, and in fact all the other great wisdom's of theology reminds us, that the body and the world is nothing to waste our focus on. Our purpose is the reunification of the spark of who we really are with that flame of love that created us. While we are here Jesus stands as an example of how to find true joy during our journey on earth and that we can shake loose the failings of our past and always be renewed with the next sunrise. He does not urge us for His own satisfaction, He shares the methodology of how to be free of suffering by concentrating on our God, following His advice and surrendering all things temporal to that Perfect Love with trust. Happy Easter

31/3/2013 06:39:00 am

Hi Rich and thank you for sharing such inspiring reflections. I loved your expression, 'reunification of the spark of who we really are with that flame of love that created us.' It reminded me of 'Flame', a meditation on the Holy Spirit by St John of the Cross, e.g. 'Flame, alive, compelling, yet tender past all telling, reaching the secret centre of my soul...O lamps of fire bright-burning with splendid brilliance, turning deep caverns of my soul to pools of light! Once shadowed, dim, unknowing, now their strange new-found glowing, gives warmth and radiance for my Love's delight.' I also liked your emphasis on how, in Jesus, 'we can shake loose the failings of our past and always be renewed with the next sunrise'. The gospel truly is a message of hope. With many blessings this Easter time. Nick

Fran A. Burger

1/4/2013 12:50:09 am

What Easter mean to me? It means That God Love me He die to save me! And It's away to start over like Spring itself. Everything is new again!
Let the Lord into your Heart! Take care!

1/4/2013 12:54:28 am

Hi Fran and thanks for expressing that so well. I loved your comment that, 'it's a way to start over like spring itself...everything is new again.' Jesus' love for us, willingness to die for us and the miracle of his resurrection continually amaze me beyond words. With many blessings. Nick

Corney Korokan ALONE

1/4/2013 06:12:04 am

My Christian belief in God swings on the pendulum of Christ's death, His triumphant resurrection on the 3rd day and the victory He attained over death and the forgiveness that comes from the spotless blood of Jesus my Saviour. Without this, my belief would be futile and useless (1 Corinthians 15:17)

1/4/2013 06:15:05 am

Thank you, Corney, and bless you. Nick

1/4/2013 01:57:50 pm

You're welcome Nick,
Jesus be exalted this Easter, today, everyday other day and the years to
come.

Bridget

1/4/2013 03:21:02 pm

Thanks for the great Easter blog!

Funnily enough, this Easter, I was thinking about "Good Friday" and why do we call it "Good" Friday when Jesus had to go through such unthinkable agonies...but then I think I got it.... He didn't HAVE to go through those agonies, He chose to...He made the decision to obey and submit despite knowing the horrors that were awaiting Him. That decision to obey seems to me to be the most important decision made in the history of mankind.

So, from now on I'm ditching "Good Friday" and using "Awesome Friday" instead!

Blessings, B

1/4/2013 05:13:43 pm

Hi Bridget and thanks for the note. Yes, I too have often wondered how appropriate 'Good Friday' is as a title for the day that marks Jesus' crucifixion. I think you have touched on its intended meaning, and awesome is a great word to describe God's Easter story. :) With blessings. Nick

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