The Wonderful Cross

Candy. For children especially, that's the first that comes to mind when they hear "Easter". The "Easter Bunny" (usually grandma) gives a basket full of fake grass and plastic eggs that contain chocolate, jelly beans, cheap toys, and marshmallow chicks. After church, there's always a big Easter Egg Hunt where some kids feel left out because they didn't find the golden egg. And then everyone sits down and eats lots of food... usually some deviled eggs and ham are involved. Thus concludes Easter in the average American home.

I don't want to lose sight of what this day is really about. It's easy to get caught up in even the simplest parts... I treasure the family time, and definitely enjoy all the good food. But, why exactly do we celebrate? Is it because of the candy? The Bunny? The eggs? No. We celebrate because one Man took the weight of the world on His shoulders. How deep the Father's love for us, that He would allow His only Son to die. And He didn't die just any death. Can you imagine bearing a cross? Christ carried His on His bleeding back, up a hill to the spot where he would die. For you, for me. Can you imagine having a rod driven through your arms and your legs, attaching you to that cross? Christ bore the pain. For you, for me. He died, hanging on that cross, suffocating because it hurt too much to push himself up to fill his lungs with air. And when He died, everything was shaken... it changed, for you, for me. And the most amazing part - He rose again! On that first Easter Sunday, Christ was resurrected from the dead, and gave us the promise of freedom that came from His dying breath. How amazing, how wonderful the Cross of my Savior.