THE RESURRECTION IS MORE POWERFUL THAN EASTER

Tommorrow morning many Christians will gather themselves together . Some of them call themselves christians but have not entered into God's house to assemble themselves together since the last Resurrection Sunday. Many of them will spend money they should be putting in the tithe basket on a new suit, new shoes, hair, nails and chocolate. Chocolate bunnies, eggs and baskets full of goodies for their kids.

We as Christians must be careful not to give glory to the Easter traditions. God is a jealous God and will not share his glory. We will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on tommorrow and nothing is share in that celebration. We must not give our children large baskets and new clothes as though it is required during this time of the year. We must remember that the best thing we can give them is Jesus. The knowledge of Jesus is the perfect gift. Before we take them shopping and before we buy them a bunny rabbitt or take pictures with the Easter Bunny, we need to sit them down and talk to them about the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the miracle of his rising from the dead and ascending into heaven to be sitted at the right hand of God almighty.

We should train them up so they have reverence and gratefulness in their hearts this season and all year. For them it is not Easter, it is RESURRECTION SUNDAY. Put the Word before them before you put a basket , new clothes or a bunny before them. Teach them it is about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and about him only. Take time out to read with them about the journey of Jesus. Talk to them about how important his sacrifice really was and still is. Explain to them what he gave up to come to earth as a man and give up his place in heaven to come to this earth and save us from our own selves. We were doomed and could not be made clean until the blood of Jesus.

Teach the children that during this season we celebrate the shedding of the blood of a lamb with no blemish, no mark just perfection. He put himself on the altar of sacrifice for us and allowed man to shed his blood so that we would not be lost. He took up a cross deservingly meant for us and he carried it so that we might have an advocate before God for us. A reedemer out of the mouth of hell if we have chosen Jesus instead of the enemy. Even out of the mouths of our ba bies should come praises for Jesus Christ and what he sacrificed. Easter is a term to me, that is used to distract some of us from the true meaning of this season.

When this season comes we should first and foremost have thoughts of thanksgiving not of what we are going to buy. We should be praying with our families and discussing the goodness of God and the obedience of Jesus. We should bow in awe at his spirit of obedience to do God's Will no matter what the cost to him personally for a brief moment for what God gave him in return for his obedience his beyond measure. This is a time to show our children that obedience is better than sacrifice. Now is the time we remind them that sometimes we must go thru because it is God's Will but if they will go through with him and the way he tells them according to his Word he is GUARANTEED to bring them out and reward them .

What is the origin of Easter ? The origin of Easter involves the birth of Semiramis' illegitimate son, Tammuz. Somehow, Semiramis convinced the people that Tammuz was actually Nimrod reborn. Since people had been looking for the promised savior since the beginning of mankind (see Genesis 3:15), they were persuaded by Semiramis to believe that Tammuz was that savior, even that he had been supernaturally conceived. Before long, in addition to worshipping Tammuz (or Nimrod reborn), the people also worshipped Semiramis herself as the goddess of fertility. In other cultures, she has been called Ishtar, Ashtur and yes, Easter.
Contemporary traditions such as the Easter Bunny and the Easter egg can also be traced back to the practices established by Semiramis. Because of their prolific nature, rabbits have long been associated with fertility and its goddess, Ishtar. Ancient Babylonians believed in a fable about an egg that fell into the Euphrates River from heaven and from which Queen Astarte (another name for Ishtar or Semiramis) was "hatched." However, Easter did not always symbolize Christ's resurrection from the dead and the meaning of Easter was quite different than what Christians celebrate today. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honored the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ's resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became know as Easter. The meaning of Easter was also changed to reflect its new Christian orientation.

My personal preference is to use the term'Resurrection Sunday' instead of 'Easter' because of the pagan origins. As we tend to do in the world, we get things mixed up and try and fix them so that they 'feel' right to us or others do not recognize the foundation from which it comes. Easter is not a term originating to acknowledge the victory of Jesus Christ over death and the grave, it was originated to give honor to a non living god . Born from the ignorance and evilness of a people. As we grow spiritually and learn of our God we begin to see things differently and think differently.

Some may argue and say the basket and bunny is for the kids. It is a time for them to have fun and enjoy the compliments of others about their dress, their suit, their hat etc..but kids do not need that to have a good time on Resurrection Sunday. They just need the training up of the way that they should go and when this season comes around they will still be happy and joyful and smiling because they know the importance of the VICTORY that Jesus has over death and the grave. We will have taught them about what he did and why we celebrate and the will rejoice with us , for out of the mouth of babes should come PERFECTED PRAISE.

Make it more about God and not about a bunny and a basket. They are idols. They can not speak, they can not move, they can not hear your prayers why give them any recognition. Keep your children and yourselves focused on the real reason for the season...the VICTORY OF JESUS OVER THE GRAVE ! HE HAS RISEN WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD. He is ALIVE. He is our REDEEMER and he is our ADVOCATE.

CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT JESUS LOVES YOU. God gave his only begotten son that we might live. AMEN.