Easter Truths

O.K. Time to “bad mouth” the Easter bunny….When I was a kid my Mom would sing “the Easter song”. Here it is:

“Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hopping' down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Easter's on its way.
Bringing' every girl and boy baskets full of Easter joy,
Things to make your Easter bright and gay.
He's got jellybeans for Tommy,
Colored eggs for sister Sue,
There's an orchid for your Mommy
And an Easter bonnet, too.
Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hopping' down the bunny trail,
Look at him stop, and listen to him say:
"Try to do the things you should."
Maybe if you're extra good,
He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way.”

Yes, my parents lied to me about Easter. I never knew about Jesus until I was 19 years old and for years, like my “faith in Santa Claus”, I believed that some rabbit brought me jelly beans and chocolate eggs (which my brother and I ate until we were sick). First of all, it was quite an act of “faith” to believe in a rabbit that could give all the kids worldwide jelly beans and chocolate eggs! “O.K.”, I remember thinking, “maybe, like Santa, he has help.” But when I “busted” my parents unloading the grocery bags full of candy one Easter (I was about six), that dream vanished. Good thing too, because like Santa, the Easter bunny expected me to be “extra good”. Remember, Santa was “making a list and checking it twice; gonna find out who’s naughty and nice.” For years I thought I had the old guy fooled because there were plenty of gifts under the Christmas tree every holiday. But my conscience always bothered me about those “naughty and nice” and “if you’re extra good” requirements.

Don’t lie to your kids or grandkids. Tell them the wonderful truth of Easter that sets the conscience-free: Jesus, true God, and true Man, came to earth to suffer, die and rise again to forgive all people all their sin. And through faith in Him, given at your baptism or through the Gospel, you can be absolutely certain of everlasting life. It is a matter of faith, yes; a gift of God the Holy Spirit. But it comes not from a popular singer but from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He, unlike all others, can be trusted eternally. A most blessed Easter to all! He is risen!
Amen. In Jesus’ Name, amen!

Pastor William C. Mack