So
… I’ve looked and looked and looked over the past several times I’ve read
through the Bible cover to cover and I have to admit. I’m at a loss. Not once in the past five years of reading it
front to back, have I found mention of a rabbit. Especially one that is in any way associated
with Easter. I’ve found two mentions in
the Old Testament of “hare,” both of which are associated with restrictions of
eating them in accordance with the Old Testament dietary guidelines. (Perhaps that’s a good excuse for me to use
for not eating the bunnies in the backyard that I pick off with our pellet gun
… ha!)
Perhaps
I’m telegraphing this message this week, but I’m struggling with why we are so
willing to honor a fictitious furry critter whose best contribution to society
appears to be eating our grass and shrubs, narrowly missing the 800 feet per
second projectiles I keep firing at them.
What, pray tell, does a rabbit have to do with Easter, other than
supposedly bringing chocolates and candies … which most of us should be staying
away from anyway? And, why do eggs all
of a sudden on Easter become so enticing?
As I sit here in my office, I can hear families in some of our
neighbors’ homes holding Easter egg hunts.
Let’s face it, any egg that is laid outside in the yard probably isn’t
worth eating … I’d just as soon get the ones from the market. Enough of being facetious I guess.
Now
don’t get me wrong … I don’t see anything wrong with having a contest to find
eggs and candy. At least the kids can
get a little exercise before engorging themselves with all that sugar.
But
more on point … I have to wonder have we, as Christians, surrendered the
responsibility to share the real meaning of Easter to our friends, loved ones,
and the world? Maybe we ourselves have
forgotten. Maybe, just maybe, we are
choosing not to remember for fear of conjuring up some of those visuals I talked
about in last week’s post. I’m not sure,
but perhaps it’s just a good opportunity to take stock.
My
reading this week brought me through one of the Psalms that served as a fitting
reminder. In totality, I read through
Leviticus 14 – 20, Psalms 104 – 110, 2 Samuel 24, and 1 Kings 1 – 6. In Psalm 107, God provides a nice Old
Testament model to help focus our vision on the need to remember the real
purpose of commemorating Easter. The
entire Psalm fills that purpose, but verses 1 – 9 are sufficient to make the
point.
Give thanks to the Lord, for
he is good! His faithful love endures
forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your
enemies. For he has gathered the exiles
from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and
homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they
nearly died. “Lord, help!” they cried in
their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city
where they could live. Let them praise
the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for
them. For he satisfies the thirsty
and
fills the hungry with good things.
I
love the reminder … “Has the Lord redeemed you?
Then speak out!” Today we
remember the WAY that the Lord redeemed us all.
Yeah, it came through Good Friday, but the most important element of the
redemption comes from Easter in Jesus’s conquering of death for Himself, and
for all of us. Over 2,000 years ago
Easter came to be. Way before the idea
of some creepy giant bunny who delivers candy.
Way back then, the reason to speak out arose. Without the resurrection of Jesus, there is
no Easter.
But
the rest of this passage, and in fact the rest of the Psalm, provide a really
poignant reminder of the reason we should speak out. I can say firsthand, that before I met the
Lord, I felt like I often “wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.” I know I frequently went “hungry and thirsty”
spiritually-speaking. Obviously, before
coming to faith in Christ, I “nearly died” from an eternal perspective.
God’s
response is the reason we should speak out.
Because, “he rescued them [us] from their [our] distress.” Because, “He led them [us] straight to
safety, to a city where they [we] could live.”
I
love chocolate like the next guy, but all that stupid fictitious bunny does is
give me candy, God … through Jesus’s death and resurrection … gives me life,
safety, nourishment, etc. Not just
today, but every day and eternally.
My
challenge for you is to read through Psalm 107.
It’s not long. Go through it
slowly and ask yourself … and ask God to help you … if you can relate to any of
the “them”, “they”, or “some” that are mentioned. If we’re honest, I’d be willing to bet that
we can all identify with many if not most.
Once
you do that, then have a look at the ways the Lord comes to the aid of the “them”,
“they” or “some” and note how much YOU or WE fit those in the way God “rescues”,
“saves”, and does “wonderful things” for us through His Son.
The
great thing about the REAL Easter holiday is that it’s an every day thing, not
just a once a year thing. Jesus died and
rose for us for all time. With Him we
enjoy the rewards forever. The bunny
only comes once a year.
8-)
Enjoy
the blessings of Easter … every day of the year. And … “speak out” and tell someone about it.
In
Christ, once and for all,
MR
Well Said
ReplyDelete