Of Chocolate Bunnies and Easter Baskets

The church I grew up in was not one to let their hair down. Communion was once a year: Good Friday. Christmas was pleasant and rich with tradition. But Easter Sunday was the one time the children literally got to bust loose.

After hearing the Easter story and singing the traditional hymns like "Up from the Grave He Arose", we were released to run and play outside as we searched for Easter Eggs. As a young child it was like Christmas all over again! There were eggs, chocolates, cookies and of course fake green grass. As an older child I became responsible to help a younger child find the well-hidden goodies. It was still a tremendous joy, a release from the daily life of the church.

What does the Easter Bunny have to do with the theology of Easter? At first glance, it would seem nothing whatsoever. But that Easter Egg hunt in many ways emulated the real meaning of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus allows us to bust loose in joy. The resurrection of Jesus opens up for us a treasure trove of new things in our lives to search for. The resurrection of Jesus produces a tremendous joy as we are released from our hum-drum lives into lives of hope and praise and love.

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in God’s Son." 1 John 5:11