Easter Blues
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. . . . But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. . . . For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:6, 8, 10)
Can I be honest with you about something? I never really enjoyed Easter all that much. I became a Christian when I was a kid, and I took it seriously from the start. I should have been big into the holiday. I just didn’t like it. I think I wanted it to be Christmas. You know, presents. And warm fuzzy feelings. And happy times with the family. But it just wasn’t that kind of fun.
Instead, I associated Easter morning with feeling a little nauseated. Grandma always bought me a giant Easter basket full of sugar in various forms, and I’d be knee deep in all that green plastic grass by 6 a.m. and feeling queasy by 6:30. Then they’d dress us up in our most uncomfortable clothes, and we’d all go to church to sit still and sing slow songs and listen to sermons and sit up straight. Then the big Sunday afternoon meal. Ham. Too much food. When can I take off these angry shoes and my clip-on tie? You know you’re not having a good time when what you want most is to go take a nap.
The other thing is that everyone pushed the “feelings” we should have about Easter. This is a BIG DEAL. Get it? Do you get it? Are you feeling it? You better be feeling it. It was just too much pressure. All my feelings felt fake, because I was forcing myself to really “feel” grateful to God and awed by his power.
But, of course, I do get it. And right now, sitting in front of my computer with my shoes off and some music playing, I’m overwhelmed at the idea of God sacrificing His only Son to allow me a way into His family. What God did -- and why He did it and the power He showed in defeating death -- it’s the bottom line of my whole life.
Here’s my point, though. I don’t think God cares whether I’m able to come up with all the right feelings at the right volume during the pomp and circumstance of Easter morning. Jesus didn’t die on that ferocious cross and walk out of His borrowed tomb in hopes that I’d really get all warm and fuzzy at Easter. He died for me when I was still his enemy, still all about me, still lost. No matter what I feel or don’t, God wanted to “reconcile” us, to remove the barrier of our sin so He could welcome us home with open arms. God committed that giant act of heroic love . . . because He likes us.
So no matter what you’re feeling this Easter season, I hope you’ll take some time to tell God that you know how God He is and to thank Him for the gift of eternity with Him through Jesus -- whether it’s in a crowded Easter morning service or sitting at your keyboard or driving in your car. And if you haven’t received God’s sacrifice of love by trusting in the alive-again Jesus to save you from sin, I hope you won’t judge the value of faith in Christ by our big hats and shiny shoes. It’s about the God who loved you before you could even bring yourself to care. Without that, what’s the bottom line of your whole life?
Happy Easter. And watch out. That early-morning candy high wears off ugly.
Can I be honest with you about something? I never really enjoyed Easter all that much. I became a Christian when I was a kid, and I took it seriously from the start. I should have been big into the holiday. I just didn’t like it. I think I wanted it to be Christmas. You know, presents. And warm fuzzy feelings. And happy times with the family. But it just wasn’t that kind of fun.
Instead, I associated Easter morning with feeling a little nauseated. Grandma always bought me a giant Easter basket full of sugar in various forms, and I’d be knee deep in all that green plastic grass by 6 a.m. and feeling queasy by 6:30. Then they’d dress us up in our most uncomfortable clothes, and we’d all go to church to sit still and sing slow songs and listen to sermons and sit up straight. Then the big Sunday afternoon meal. Ham. Too much food. When can I take off these angry shoes and my clip-on tie? You know you’re not having a good time when what you want most is to go take a nap.
The other thing is that everyone pushed the “feelings” we should have about Easter. This is a BIG DEAL. Get it? Do you get it? Are you feeling it? You better be feeling it. It was just too much pressure. All my feelings felt fake, because I was forcing myself to really “feel” grateful to God and awed by his power.
But, of course, I do get it. And right now, sitting in front of my computer with my shoes off and some music playing, I’m overwhelmed at the idea of God sacrificing His only Son to allow me a way into His family. What God did -- and why He did it and the power He showed in defeating death -- it’s the bottom line of my whole life.
Here’s my point, though. I don’t think God cares whether I’m able to come up with all the right feelings at the right volume during the pomp and circumstance of Easter morning. Jesus didn’t die on that ferocious cross and walk out of His borrowed tomb in hopes that I’d really get all warm and fuzzy at Easter. He died for me when I was still his enemy, still all about me, still lost. No matter what I feel or don’t, God wanted to “reconcile” us, to remove the barrier of our sin so He could welcome us home with open arms. God committed that giant act of heroic love . . . because He likes us.
So no matter what you’re feeling this Easter season, I hope you’ll take some time to tell God that you know how God He is and to thank Him for the gift of eternity with Him through Jesus -- whether it’s in a crowded Easter morning service or sitting at your keyboard or driving in your car. And if you haven’t received God’s sacrifice of love by trusting in the alive-again Jesus to save you from sin, I hope you won’t judge the value of faith in Christ by our big hats and shiny shoes. It’s about the God who loved you before you could even bring yourself to care. Without that, what’s the bottom line of your whole life?
Happy Easter. And watch out. That early-morning candy high wears off ugly.
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