Beauty from Ashes

I think Easter is my favorite holiday. To be perfectly honest, at Christmas or Thanksgiving or any other holiday, I would miss the trappings if they weren’t there. Important as the “reason” really is, I would not like to do without the presents and the dinner and the decorations and all that. But for me, this day is different. You could take away the candy, the baskets, the bunnies, the festive dinner–all of it!–and it would still be the most joyful day of the year!

Why? Because there is nothing that can compare to the knowledge that our Lord has conquered the enemy! He has defeated death itself, that which seemed so powerful. So final. So unalterable. But He broke it, conquered it, trampled it under His feet! He holds the keys of death and hell now, and death is swallowed up in victory!

It is the most central aspect of our faith; as Paul says “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!…If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Corinthians 15:17, 19) If one were to stop there, life would be hopeless and our celebration of Easter as the resurrection day would be a ridiculous mockery! But that’s not the end! The next verse continues: “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” And therein is our reason for hoping. That is what sets us apart. Not only did He die to free us from our sins, but He rose again to bring us life, and life more abundantly!

Christ is risen! Alleluia!