Believing in the Fullness of Easter
Everyone in the Western
World has heard of Easter, and most have been taught to
celebrate it in one way or another. But how many of us are
truly been taught to believe in Easter?
Growing up in a Christian home, Easter was a time when I
received a new dress to wear to church. There was a long
sermon, which I didn’t understand, then we would go home to
eat our chocolate Easter bunnies and have an Easter egg
hunt. I was told that Easter was the time when we celebrated
Christ’s death and resurrection, but it didn’t mean anything
to me.
As I a teenager, I stopped getting new dresses for Easter. I
went to church, and I might have understood the sermon, had
I listened! I gave up the Easter chocolate. It was too
fattening! By now the Easter story should have meant
something to me. But fashion and friends meant a lot more!
In early adulthood, I went to church on Easter, but I still
didn’t understand the Easter sermon. Nor did I relate to the
Easter pageant. Seeing the actors—my peers—playing the part
of Jesus hanging on the cross, didn’t mean anything to me.
Why? Because the One who really hung on the cross was
nothing more than a vague concept.
Then it all changed. I met the One. I accepted His offer of
friendship and entered the most important love relationship
of my life. Easter suddenly came alive. The dull Easter
sermons became filled with new meaning, new hope. The Reason
for Easter spoke out to me from the Easter pageants: I did
this, for you! I was humbled. I was broken! I accepted His
gift of the cross and I was saved!
But there was still so much more meaning to Easter—meaning
that I still had to learn. Is. 53:5 sums it up well: “But He
was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon
Him, and by His wounds we are healed!”
Just what does this “healing” encompass? Spiritual healing,
yes! “. . . Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now
received reconciliation” (Rom 5:11) We were made right
with God! But oh, so much more! “For in Christ all the
fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have
been given fullness in Christ . . .” (Col 2:9-11)
What does this “fullness” mean?
It means the Source of compassion and patience, humility,
kindness, and faith—everything we need to live a godly
life—resides within! All we have to do is “put it on” (Col.
3:12)! It also means healing—physical, mental and emotional
healing (Matt. 8:16-17)!
Would you like to live a godly, faith-filled, worry-free
life? Would you like to receive God’s healing? Then believe
in the Fullness of Easter! Accept the One who made it
possible, and you “put on” everything you need!
Lyn Chaffart
Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org ,