" A PERSPECTIVE ON THE EASTER HOLIDAY - THOUGHTS ABOUT EASTER EGGS"

I like holidays. Christmas and presents. Easter and decorated eggs. Yes, I know that the most important thing about Christmas is the birth of Jesus and the most important thing about Easter is His death and His resurrection. However, we who are Christians can use the secular aspects of the holidays to illustrate sacred principles.

Although the origin of “Easter” and it’s traditions is debated (see wikipedia.com), we accept the practice as part of our Easter traditions. May I make a spiritual application?

Think about Easter eggs for a moment. They come in all kinds - hard boiled, candied, chocolate, peanut butter, and even plastic. The plastic kind come empty. Hmm ... and empty egg. An empty shell. An empty container. An empty tomb. One of my Easter traditions is to give the kids at our church two plastic Easter eggs - one empty and one filled with candy. I ask them to share the candy with someone else and tell that person the story of the empty tomb. But, before I do give them the eggs, I hold up a traditional Easter egg - one that has been dyed and hard-boiled. But, unknown to the kids, it’s not hard-boiled but only a real eggshell with the egg removed. (It’s not hard to do. Simply poke small holes in the top and bottom of a raw egg and blow out the contents.) I explain that this egg is a 100% real, honest-to-goodness, Bible Easter egg because (and as I crack the egg on one of the kid’s head) - IT’S EMPTY! Just like the tomb that first Easter morning. The look on the kids’ (and the adults) faces is always great.

As you celebrate Easter and eat too many Easter eggs this week, think about empty plastic Easter eggs ... and the empty tomb.

Holidays ... I love them. This is just one pastor’s perspective.

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