Easter isn’t just one Sunday a year. For Christians, it’s a whole season that celebrates the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
In this heartfelt reflection, Pastor Rob shares why we shouldn’t pack away our hope with the leftover Peeps. Whether you’re deep in your faith or just curious, this message will make you think twice about what Easter really means.
Easter Isn’t Over — It’s Just Getting Started
What? It’s Still Easter?!
I know what some of you are thinking. You’re looking at the calendar, maybe even glancing at the dwindling Peeps in the grocery store clearance aisle, and wondering if your pastor has finally succumbed to one too many black jellybeans.
“Easter was weeks ago, Pastor!” you might be saying. “We’ve moved on to planning summer picnics and figuring out how to keep the air conditioning bill from rivaling the national debt!”
And you’d be right… sort of. We did celebrate a glorious Easter Sunday, complete with triumphant hymns, lilies that threatened to overtake the altar, and enough ham to feed a small army (though I suspect most of it has mysteriously vanished by now).
The Resurrection Is More Than a Day
But here’s the thing, folks: Easter isn’t just a single day of pastel attire and sugar rushes. It’s a season. A whole glorious chunk of time dedicated to basking in the unbelievable, life-altering news of resurrection!
We don’t just shout “He is risen!” on one Sunday and then tuck that truth away in a drawer until next spring. No, the resurrection is the very heartbeat of our faith, the foundation upon which everything else rests.
Why the Easter Season Matters
Think of it like this: imagine celebrating your birthday with just one slice of cake and then saying, “Well, that’s done for the year!” Ridiculous, right? Your birthday is a whole thing! You might have a party, go out to dinner, maybe even milk it for a whole week (no judgment here!).
Easter is infinitely more significant than a birthday; it’s the celebration of new life, of hope conquering despair, of love triumphing over death! Why would we confine that to a mere 24 hours?
Living in the Light of Resurrection
This Easter season is an invitation to truly live in the light of the resurrection. It’s a call to embrace the new possibilities that Christ’s victory offers us each and every day. It’s about recognizing the power of forgiveness, the beauty of second chances, and the unwavering hope that anchors our souls.
Faith That Surprises Us
And speaking of things that evoke strong reactions… let’s talk jellybeans. Specifically, the black ones. Ah, the black jellybean.
That polarizing confection that seems to exist solely to divide humanity. You either embrace its licorice-y goodness with unbridled enthusiasm, or you recoil in horror as if it were a tiny, chewy harbinger of doom. There is no middle ground.
Hope, Like Licorice, Isn’t for Everyone
In a strange, sugary way, the black jellybean is a bit like our faith. The message of Easter – the radical, world-changing news of resurrection – can sometimes feel… well, a little out there. It might not always be the easiest thing to swallow.
Some might embrace it wholeheartedly, finding it the most profound and life-giving truth imaginable. Others might find it perplexing, even a little… licorice-y.
But just like those who bravely reach for that misunderstood black jellybean, those who truly grasp the meaning of Easter discover a depth and richness that transcends the initial strangeness. They find a flavor of hope, love, and grace that sustains them long after the last chocolate bunny has been devoured.
How We Carry Easter Forward
So, as we continue this Easter season, let’s not just remember the ham and the hidden eggs. Let’s strive to live in the reality of the resurrection. Let’s embrace the new life offered to us. And maybe, just maybe, let’s even try a black jellybean. You never know, you might just discover a new favorite flavor… or at least have a good story to tell.
Final Thought
He is risen! Indeed, He is risen! (And pass the Peeps – while they last!)
Blessings,
Pastor Rob