Happy Easter. And I only say that to you if you believe in the real reason this holiday (Holy-day) exists. If you don’t believe, then you can have a terrible day for all I care.
“Ouch, Tony. That’s harsh.”
Oh, did I write that out loud. Sorry, not sorry.
OK, now that I’ve thinned out the readers, here’s a little Happy Easter backstory.
A small bunch of years ago I shared an explanation of why Christians celebrate Resurrection Day (aka: Easter). And I’m gonna share it again for the 99% of the world that didn’t see it the first time. Plus, I’ll share the famous Easter song, “The Way,” written by your favorite rhyme and reason rabble-rouser.
If you don’t need to be convinced, awesome. You can skip this explanation and head to the video, below. Either way, here ya go…
To outsiders, it sometimes looks like we’re celebrating a bloody murder. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. Easter isn’t about death at all. Quite the opposite. Christians all around the world celebrate the fact (yes, I said “fact”) that about 2000 years ago God became man and suffered a horrible death in order to offer us eternal life. That man, Jesus, was mocked, ridiculed, persecuted, prosecuted, and executed by the very people He came to save.
It’s unimaginable the torment He suffered just so you and I could avoid eternal suffering. You can say it’s a fairy tale. But that doesn’t erase the Truth. You can say the story of Jesus was simply written by men with an agenda. But that only shows me you haven’t actually read the book. You can even say eternity doesn’t exist for anyone. But that reveals your personal agenda.
Resurrection Day is all about what happened after Jesus was killed.
He rose from the dead, and the Bible says He was the “firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Simply put…that means He’s tip-top and no other name or person can be or ever shall be higher. And that means He can (and does) offer His eternal life to anyone who will follow Him.
Every day I more clearly understand why Jesus said to follow Him you must hate your “father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters” and even your own life. People will always let you down, but Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. That “hate” isn’t the kind you’re seeing tossed around the internet and media. Jesus was saying your love for Him needs to be so full that anything else is hate in comparison. When you understand He is the only way you’re ever gonna receive eternal life, I believe your love for Him will increase all the time.
So, don’t let the big, bad world, or even the people to your left or your right, rob you of your joy and your celebration of Resurrection Day 2024. Or, for that matter, any other day of life your Creator has given you. Would you do me a favor and send me a story of how you celebrated the day? I’ll share it here and on my FunderCast. And until then, here’s an Easter rhyme for you…
Happy Easter Day
There’s a story you might know
Of a man who was killed some time ago.
He did nothing that was wrong,
But some people made Him suffer for so long.
Still there’s good news you can learn
‘Cause He died to give you what you’ll never earn.
He was nailed up on a cross,
But the people didn’t understand the loss.
Then they took Him to a tomb,
And they laid His lifeless body in that room,
But the story didn’t end there.
There would only be three days He would spend there.
Happy Easter day…He arose!
© 2007
Sure, you can always jump online to find all my really refreshing Rhymes and Reasons? But I recommend you jump on the The FunderFlash. And I’ll send them directly to your inbox. Do it now, and I’ll send you some songs and some other surprises: https://www.TonyFunderburk.com
Stay tuned,