Do Traditions Trump Recognizing Jesus?

Easter is such a special time, no matter how much I take it for granted every year.

Deep down, I know it’s about Jesus… about Him coming to His Earth as a man, willingly dying to cover the debt of my own sin, rising from the grave as Conqueror over that sin & death. I know it’s about His love & sacrifice for me… for you….

And I may not be big into Easter bunny traditions, making my excitement about candy stashes & such, but I STILL find ways to overshadow the true reason we ought to celebrate Easter–Jesus.

Not Just a Nod

My challenge to you, & to myself, is that we look for ways to thank Jesus every Easter, not in a “let’s remember to thank Jesus!”…. “Thank You, Jesus!”…. “Ok, let’s get dressed up, do our church thing, eat a lot of food, & eat a bunch of candy after we go see the Easter Bunny!”… But really MAKE IT ABOUT JESUS.

That’s harder than it seems sometimes, for me.

I grow complacent pretty easily.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I do the whole, “Thank You, Jesus,” but more out of, “I know I ought to thank Him—it’s EASTER, after all,” rather than any real bowing of my heart in gratefulness to His sacrifice on my behalf…. More out of “Christian necessity” rather than a surrendered heart of gratitude.

Jesus Gave It All & None of Us Deserve It

Without Jesus, I would get Hell & have no other option.

I could try, as many do, to be a “good person” & do all of the right “Christian-y things,” but without Jesus, I would get Hell… every single one of us would.

God says: “For whoever shall keep the whole law, & yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)

God says: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

God says: “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)

God says: “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one;’” (Romans 3:10)

God says: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)

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

But God also says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Do You Numb Over It As Easily As I Do?

How is it so easy for me to numb over all of that? To give myself so much credit that I forget the weightiness of this gift that we are meant to remember & celebrate on Easter?

I need to learn how to be intentional in making Easter about JESUS—specifically, exclusively about JESUS.

I am not saying fun traditions are evil or necessarily wrong, but we need to be so careful not to, even unintentionally, overshadow the weightiness of this beautiful gift we have been given through Jesus.

We deserve Hell. I deserve Hell.

We can’t earn otherwise. I can’t earn otherwise.

But… JESUS. Let me not forget that!

But… JESUS

“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25)

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18)

But, JESUS.

How Can You Intentionally Make Easter About Jesus?

How do you make Easter about Jesus?

Do you talk about Him? Share about Him with people who matter to you? Do you stop to consider your daily “little” sins of trusting your own wisdom over God’s & thank Him for taking your deserved punishment on Himself so you can live daily by grace instead of guilt?

Do you make Easter about JESUS?

An idea God gave me several years ago was to make quiche as my Easter dinner versus a feast. A meal where the eggs are cracked open, broken, & poured out to provide me with a nourishing, delicious meal–much like how Jesus allowed Himself to be broken, pouring out His love & life to give me life.

Or maybe, talk about Easter eggs representing Jesus being broken for our sins, to give us a wonderful gift, much better than the candy even that we find inside our Easter eggs.

Even take some time of renewal, if there are sins you hold back or try to hide or justify… bring them to God, in prayer, asking forgiveness & thanking God for Jesus’ covering over that, too. Take it as an opportunity to refresh your hope in His grace over your sin.

Whatever you choose to do, make efforts to make Easter all about Jesus.

Accept the Gift of Jesus That We Celebrate Every Easter

And if you haven’t accepted Jesus, if you have rebelled “beyond forgiveness,” realize that NO ONE is beyond forgiveness with Jesus. Just take those sins… those “I know better than You, God” actions… & admit them to God, ask for His forgiveness, & ask for Jesus to cover those on your behalf, knowing He is the ONLY way back to God & restoration/redemption. He is our Redeemer & He died so that we may live & He now lives so that we may live in Him!

Jesus doesn’t stand in your way, determining who does or doesn’t deserve His free gift of covering our sins—because not a single one of us CAN deserve it—He offers it freely to ANYONE who will believe ON HIM as that solution of redemption & grace before God. So, ask Him now.

And shine HOPE by letting whatever you do, in reflection or in tradition, even if you need to first ask God for ideas… work to make Easter (& every day) about Jesus.

Coming Next Week

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