“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” Luke 24:5

Someone sent me a picture of a humorous church sign along the road which read: “Silly Wabbit, Easter is for Jesus.” Funny? Yes. But what’s wrong with that statement? (We’ll come back to that in a minute).

Each year during this season, I’ve noticed more and more wabbits being sold…and eggs, and pastel-colored baskets, and candy and wabbit chocolates.  I’ve also noticed fewer and fewer items actually relating to Easter.

I remember as a kid when everyone wore fancy clothes on that day. It was the only Sunday that almost all the kids had new shiny shoes and the girls with their mothers all wore pretty hats. Some of the girls even wore white gloves. Several of the moms and dads had a flower on their suits or dresses. Excitement was in the atmosphere.   Of course, we knew too, that an Easter egg hunt for all the children would begin after the service. There would be lots of beautifully colored hard-boiled eggs, jelly beans inside plastic eggs, hard candy-coated marshmallow eggs, and a very special large chocolate-covered candy egg. Everyone would get an Easter basket to fill up.

Now that I’m older, I know Easter Sunday in a much different way. I now realize Easter is about death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus, the Son of God, was born so that one day He would die. He chose to become the sacrifice for your sins and mine.

The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23 NIV).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NIV).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).

It’s amazing. By faith we simply believe in the great price that was paid for us. We sinned, Jesus died on a cross to pay for our sins, and on the third day rose from the grave and He is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us.

He paid a very high price. He gave His life. He suffered so that we can live forever with God. If we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are saved. There is no condemnation for the things we have done. And with each mistake we now make, forgiveness is still ours to receive.

The tomb where Jesus was buried and from where He rose was left empty. Only the grave clothes were left behind. Because of His great love for us, and the power of God living in us, we too will one day be caught up with Him in the air.

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NIV).

So, you see, Easter isn’t at all about Easter baskets full of candy, pretty clothes, spring flowers or wabbits. Easter is not for Jesus either. Easter is for you. Easter is for me!  Jesus died and rose from the dead for each one of us.

It’s all about an empty tomb. He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!