Wisdom from the Word

Wisdom from the Word #13 - 3/26/2024

Without getting lost in the weeds, the tradition of the Easter Bunny at Easter wasn’t always the tradition of Holy Week. Not until the later 1700’s did Christ - followers in Western culture attach themselves to the German tradition of celebrating spring with a game of “hare scramble” and hiding eggs for children to find. This was all done to celebrate the arrival of Spring with trees budding, flowers blooming, and new things “springing” to life.

While it’s all fun, if we are not careful it can detract from the true meaning of Resurrection Sunday.  For Christ-followers, it is important to live out the gospel to friends and family, especially children. Moses gave this instruction to God’s people in Deuteronomy 6:6,7: “And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. And you shall carefully teach them to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.” God wanted His people then and now to know His story of faith, hope, and love.

Telling children about death isn’t ever easy. No one wants to spoil a holiday with a sad story. However, we don’t have a sad story to tell. We have a love story of salvation and eternal life to tell the world. It’s called the Gospel, and there is no better time to share this good news than at this holy time. Jesus was born, He lived, He was crucified on a cross to save us from our sins. He was buried and three days later, HE AROSE! Now that’s worth celebrating.

The world has exponentially turned away from Christ. Church attendance is at an all-time low. A recent survey from Gallup/Barna Research Group of 32,445 adults ages 18-34 from all 50 states discovered that only 30% attend church weekly down from 42% 20 years ago while 31% say they never attend church. Sadly, in that same time frame among the same age group, belief in God went from 90% then to 74% today.[1]

 As you gather with your family during this holy week, remember, it’s about Jesus dying to save us. Tell the story, especially to your children. They can handle the truth better than we think! Remember, the story ends in hope: Christ arose and is coming back for His Bride, the Church.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:3-4