Collin Brooks
The Paw Print
It’s Easter season, and like most of the religious holidays in this country, the true meaning of Easter is lost and it is covered in the moss that is bizarre folktale and pagan roots. What exactly does it mean to celebrate Easter? Or perhaps the better question is what exactly does it ought to mean to celebrate Easter?
There is always a general understanding of the religious significance to holidays themselves, however it is a dim light compared to the glow of the traditions that are associated with each one. For the nominal Christian, Easter is one of two or three times they attend church every year. It’s really more about the bunnies and eggs. There certainly is a general awareness of the resurrection around Easter time, but the vast majority of Americans really have very little authentic interest in that aspect of the holiday.
Perhaps this is why “Resurrection Sunday” is a more appropriate title for the holiday. It’s an intriguing title not only because it serves as a means of focusing on the resurrection of Jesus as opposed to the many traditions that are associated with it, but it raises the question and gets the conversation about this Messiah started. It’s reminder of the importance of answering this question.
The Biblical teaching of what is supposed to be celebrated on Easter, or “Resurrection Sunday” centers on Jesus. The message is that God Himself is not barred from His own creation, but that He condescended and entered into it to interact with His creatures and speak in time and history. Christians then claim to worship a God who came to people; He showed up and He spoke and testified about Himself. And this Emmanuel, this God incarnate did more than speak and reveal Himself to His creatures, but He died to accomplish atonement for their sins against Him. However, what power is there in a dead God? The apostle Paul Himself states “[I]f Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have [died] in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). According to the biblical Scriptures, God took on flesh and became a man, suffered with and for humans, and accomplished an atonement to satisfy the legal demands against them, and then validated this message by resurrecting Himself from the dead, conquering not only sin, but death itself and living for those He laid down for. The resurrection of Jesus separates Him from all other claims to divine authority. That is why this event is one all must deal with.
This event will be dealt with formally on April 24th. In Carson auditorium, there will be a free, student lead presentation open to the campus and the public at 7:00 PM which will seek to provide irrefutable proof of the Christian worldview, its testimony about Jesus, and hopefully remedy any confusion or misunderstandings about the faith in a question and answer format. All are encouraged and welcomed to attend the event.
What’s Been Said…