Good morning. Today is Palm Sunday, and we approach Easter next week. As we do that, there are a few things that we need to know. To start, have any of you ever read the book, Here Comes Peter Cottontail?
Well, if you haven’t, allow me to share part of that story with you.
Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin’ down the bunny trail,
Hippity hoppity,
Easter’s on its way
Bringin’ ev’ry girl and boy
A basketful of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter bright and gay
He’s got jelly beans for Tommy
Colored eggs for sister Sue
There’s an orchid for your mommy
And an Easter bonnet too.
Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin’ down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity,
Happy Easter Day
Well, the bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it’s origin in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500’s. The first edible Easter Bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800’s, and were made of pastry and sugar.
The Easter Bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the 1700’s. The arrival of the Easter Bunny was considered childhood’s greatest pleasure next to a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good, the Easter Bunny would lay a nest of colored eggs.
The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn, or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests. The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter Bunny spread throughout the country.
If you’ve been to a store lately, you know that we have commercialized Easter as much as we have commercialized Christmas. And just as Santa Claus is the world’s symbol of Christmas, the Easter Bunny is the world’s symbol for Easter.
Now, I will admit that it’s fun to receive and eat chocolate Easter Bunnies, those cream filled eggs, candy chicks, and jelly beans. And I’ll agree that the Easter Bunny is a likeable enough character. But I can’t figure out what positive message the Easter Bunny has. In fact, my problem with the Easter Bunny is not in what he says, but what he doesn’t say. He doesn’t give a true picture of the real meaning of Easter.
So, in our time together today, I want to share with you 4 things that the Easter Bunny won’t tell you about Easter that you need to know.
First, The Easter Bunny Won’t Tell You The PRICE Of Easter
Well, if there is any message that the Easter Bunny does share, it is that we should buy. We should buy the chocolate rabbits and eggs. We should buy the stuffed toys and Easter baskets. We should buy flowers and other gifts. What the Easter Bunny doesn’t tell you is that the price has already been paid for you to enjoy Easter.
Let me back up for a moment and explain that each and every person who ever lived was born a sinner. In Psalm 51:5 it says, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Also, if a person lives just a short time here on earth, he or she becomes a sinner in practice. In Romans 3:23 we are told, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Now, sin is anything that displeases God. For example:
- Murder displeases God.
- Stealing at any level, big or small, displeases God.
- Lying displeases God.
- Adultery displeases God.
- Impure thoughts and actions displease God.
- Un-forgiveness displeases God.
- Unjustified anger displeases God.
- Disobedience to parents displeases God.
- Inappropriate language displeases God.
- And many other things displease God as well.
When we sin, we become debtors to God. When we sin, we owe God. Now you may ask, “How so?” Well, God is a righteous and Holy God. God has declared that someone has to pay for our sins. Romans 6:23 tells us that, “… the wages of sin is death…”
Now, the logical conclusion is that we are the ones who should pay for our own sins. We are the ones who have done wrong, therefore, we are the ones who should be help responsible for our sin. We have done wrong, and we deserve punishment.
But, God in His love had another plan. Instead, He sent someone to earth who had never sinned to take our place and to pay our debts. That someone was God’s one and only Son, Jesus.
Imagine you being in a great amount of debt, and someone just coming along and paying it so you became debt free. Well, that is exactly what happened when it comes to paying for your sin debt before God. In fact, in Romans 5:6-9 it says, “1”
On what we call “Good Friday,” Jesus paid the debt for the sins of you and me. There is a song I believe is titled If That Isn’t Love. Here is a sample of the lyrics to that song:
He left the splendor of Heaven
Knowing His destiny
Was the lonely hill of Golgotha
There to lay down His life for me
And if that isn’t love
Then the ocean is dry
There’s no stars in the sky
And the little sparrows can’t fly
Yeah if that isn’t love
Then Heaven’s a myth
There’s no feeling like this
If that isn’t love
John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
If you doubt that God loves you, listen to some of the things that Jesus said on the cross just moments before His death. In Luke 23:33-34 it says, “When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals, one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, “Father, Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Even as He was unfairly put to death, Jesus did nothing to deserve to die, He had an attitude of forgiveness. Consider one of the thieves who reached out to Him, as Jesus was bearing all the guilt for all the sins of the whole world. Continuing on in Luke 23:39-43 it goes on to say, “2”
And as Jesus took on the weight of the guilt of our sins on His own shoulders showing mercy towards us, His loving Heavenly Father, with whom He had spent eternity in glory, had to turn His back on Him. That’s why He cried in Matthew 27:46 “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
But, the most triumphant words that Jesus cried on the cross were at the very end. First, He cried out, “It is finished!” And then He said, “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.” It was finished! Everything that needed to be done to pay for your sin was done. It was finished, and Jesus’ fellowship with the Father was restored.
So, despite what the Easter Bunny might bring at Easter, The Easter Bunny won’t tell you the price of Easter.
Secondly, The Easter Bunny Won’t Tell You The POWER Of Easter
The bunny will tell you of the power of fantasy. You can find all sorts of animation and stories that have absolutely nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter.
Easter is a day when the power of God is demonstrated. In I Corinthians 15:3-4 it says, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.”
Also, in Mark 16:1-7 it says, “3”
The tomb was and still is empty. Jesus is not there! By the power of God, He has risen. And for 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples, proving to them that He was indeed alive from the dead.
Luke 24:36-43 says, “4”
Now, there have been those who have been risen from the dead. In fact, in scripture, we read about how Jesus Himself brought at least 3 people back from the dead. But, everyone else, except for Jesus, died again. Jesus is the only one that is still alive. In Revelation 1:18 it says, “I am the living one, I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” You see, the power of Easter is the power of the resurrection!
So, the Easter Bunny will bring you a lot of things, but he won’t tell you the price of Easter, nor will he tell you the power of Easter. But that’s not all.
Thirdly, The Easter Bunny Won’t Tell You The PROMISE Of Easter
The promise of Easter is simply this, “Jesus was the first to be raised form the dead for all eternity, but He will not be the last.”
Through Him, everyone will be raised from the dead. Those that have placed their faith and trust in Him will be raised from the dead to spend all eternity in Heaven with Him.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 says, “5”
Last Easter, there were some of your family members, and close friends that may have been living. Since then, they have passed away. But, the good news is this, if they had a relationship with God, this Easter, they are alive still. Because of their relationship with Christ, their spirits are alive in Heaven.
This is the fulfillment of a promise that Jesus made to Martha over 2 thousand years ago. John 11:25-26 says, “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never de. Do you believe this?” It is the promise of Easter, that if we have a relationship with God, then we will be able to have everlasting life.
So, the Easter Bunny may share a lot of things with you this Easter, but he won’t tell you the price of Easter. He won’t tell you the power of Easter. And he won’t tell you the promise of Easter either. But there is one last thing.
And Finally, The Easter Bunny Won’t Tell You The PRIORITY Of Easter
Let me share something with you. You can’t pay for something that is already paid for, nor should you want to. If you and I go out for lunch, and you pay for the meal, I’m not going to go to the waitress and insist that I will pay the bill too.
Well, as we approach Easter, we need to realize that Jesus has already paid for all of our sins. In fact, in Romans 6:10 it says, “The death He died, He died to sin once for all, but the life He lives, He lives to God.”
There are people who think that forgiveness of sin comes from their own self effort, from their own good works. They think that if they do enough good stuff, God will accept them into Heaven. But there is a problem with that theory. It’s not what the Bible teaches us.
John 14:6 tells us that, “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me.”
Also, in Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
You see, the priority of Easter is that you accept the gift that Jesus has already paid for on the cross. The priority is that you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
I John 5:11-12 tells us, “And this is the testimony, God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
As we close this morning, allow me to share one last illustration with you. One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump in order to save his life. But, all the boy could see, were the flames, the smoke, and total blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you, and that’s all that matters.”
You can’t see God, but He can see you. You are facing punishment for your sins. But I say to you, “Jump into His arms. Trust Him alone for forgiveness and eternal life.” If you do, I promise He will catch you!
So, the Easter Bunny comes bring all sorts of gifts, and telling us all kinds of things. But, the he won’t tell you the price of Easter, the power of Easter, the promise of Easter, or the priority of Easter.
The Easter Bunny won’t tell you these things about Easter, but I just did. So, if you haven’t already, will you trust God for forgiveness and eternal life?
Let’s Pray!
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