Real Meaning Of Easter

The Easter Message

By now you should at least have a general idea of what Easter is, yes even if you do not believe in Jesus or the Easter Bunny. (Yes, I don’t believe in the Easter Bunny).

But just in case you still haven’t gotten this Easter thing all down yet, let me just spell it out for you that Easter or the Easter Message is basically the Foundation or the Cornerstone of why people have believed in Jesus Christ since the First Century until this very day. Well of course until somebody reputable can finally say with a great degree of certainty that Easter (or the Resurrection) was not a real event or that it did not actually take place.

But before somebody can do that, there will always be people who would believe the Easter Story and believe the Christ Jesus. And that shouldn’t be hard to handle or come to terms with.

They would because they know that there actually where people who were actual eye-witnesses to the first Easter Event and who have passed them on from generation to generation.

And what all this means is that if you lived during the time of Jesus of Nazareth in the general area of what we now know as Israel, you should have heard of the Easter Message aside from all the inexplicable events that were being credited to this man called Jesus. And knowing how curious or how skeptical you are, you probably would have witnessed some of these “miracles” yourself. Yes, to see is to believe.

So if today you believe in the Christ or if you at least believe in God, you should be at least thankful that you didn’t live at that time or at any other time prior to our generation. Also you should be at least thankful that you live at this time in this unique history of humankind where we can instantly get any information we want, we can question anything and everything, we can challenge and test beliefs and we can verify most thoughts and opinions and can have at least a fighting chance to defend whatever we believe in or hold on to.

Although, if you don’t believe in God and if you don’t believe in Jesus, then just be thankful for that minutest of chances of life as we know it happening on earth and you being who you are today. And if you care to read a little something about what I believe is the real Easter Message then please do so, as we are just starting to get it going.

The Real Message

You know for me, Easter isn’t just about Jesus suffering and dying horribly and shamefully nailed to a wooden cross. And it isn’t just about him being incredibly raised from the dead or him being inconceivably brought back to life after three days. It is not just about him already knowing about all this in advance and about him telling his followers about it beforehand. And also it isn’t about him being astoundingly seen alive by several people for many days before he ascended into heaven before their very eyes.

But to me, it means that there is a very big chance that everything he has done that was written down, preserved and recorded and everything that he has said that was written down are true. And if I can believe that, then I can read the rest of the New Testament Bible and believe it too. And also I can read even the Old Testament Bible and even start to believe even the incredible things written down in that book.

And all it takes is for me to believe that singular thing that happened on Easter Day and everything else may fall into place, not all at once but one at a time.

And conversely of course, just as I have mentioned earlier if there will come a time, especially now in our digital age generation, if there will be somebody refutable who could give a real definite argument that Easter did not take place and could say that there is absolutely no chance that it ever happened, then all this we have talked about will just crumble away.

The Real Meaning

Now of all the words that were recorded to have been said by Jesus, there is this singular quote which I think is appropriate for the Easter Message.

And I will reference it here as recorded in the New Testament Bible New International Version, written by Matthew the tax collector:

Jesus said: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Until now I have refrained to quote the Bible but being this about Easter and this being Easter, I have made this concession).

Wow, and that is the message right there. And I believe, more than me being a sinner needing a savior (and of course I do). And also even more than my Creator God reaching down from where He is down to where I am, His mere creation, and meeting me at my current condition and situation, not really worthy of being given any attention especially for anything I have done or could ever do.

For people who have a hard time believing can always say that they do not need a savior or they aren’t lost or they aren’t this and that and because of this thinking, some of them cannot even understand the point of even starting to believe in that seeming nonsense.

But, for anybody who do not deny that Jesus of Nazareth existed and believes at least that he was indeed at a man of good morals and a great teacher—then this thoughtfully simple message they can understand.

And what is there, not to understand?

When one does not believe in God, they say that they are the captain of their ship and they are more likely to be tired and needing rest for all their captaining and charting and commandeering of their life.

Yes, Jesus was a gentle man, he is humble person and indeed if one would just turn to him, rest, a respite, a break, a breather, a time-out and even real peace if not peace of mind, would be among the very first paybacks.

And all he said to do was to come to Him all who are weary and heavily burdened.

And you who do believe in God and who do belong to a church and who do believe in religion or your religion, you better read that same verse in The Message Version

Jesus said "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Read and reread it again, for you might need to.

All done?

So does your religion make you sick? Does your faith make you tired? Are you being forced to do things you know that do not want to do and it is just burning you out? Is your walk with the Lord, exhausting, arduous and too demanding?

If it is, then maybe it is time to learn the real meaning of Easter. Jesus did not suffer and die for you to suffer (and even die) as you follow him. For He even said that your walk and your work would not be heavy and will fit you to a tee. Grace will never ever be forced on you as in everyone else, and you will live freely. And so have you?

If not, then maybe it’s time to rethink everything you know as gospel truth. Remember it was for freedom that He has set you free.

So maybe it’s time to give Jesus a chance?

For ask yourself, is your religion actually getting in the way of you having a real learning experience with Jesus?

If yes, then today, more than any other day should be a good day to go back to the real meaning of Easter.

Reminder, when Jesus first appeared to his followers after his resurrection, this was what he told them "Peace be with you!" Do you have that peace within you?

Happy Resurrection Day!

Hub Number: #014

Date: 2010-Apr-03

Next Hub: http://hubpages.com/hub/Easter-Day-2010-Earthquake