Generally when people think of Easter, kite-flying, picnics or a trip to the creek come to mind. But this special holiday is much more than just bonnets and bunnies; the true meaning of Easter lies in the atoning sacrifice of our redeemer, the forgiveness of sins and the reconciliation of God with man. If we step back and take a look at this holiday with the eyes of an outsider then it would seem to be more of a commercial enterprise where shops can sell more items and market the idea of a chocolate Easter, and workers have an excuse to have an extended holiday from work duties. What a sad world we have come to live in, where the glorious message of Easter, Jesus, the resurrection and new life is almost like a whisper from history. Let this season inspire us to not only mouth the words of Jesus concerning forgiveness and compassion but actually live them, and Easter will become a powerful demonstration of the costly love that Christ has for us and what we should have for our fellow human beings.

Though Christians throughout the world observe this season in the most traditional fashion, the repeated remembrance is anything but routine but this special time gives us an opportunity to reflect on the importance and real significance of Easter, how the example of Jesus life can teach us to live better lives. So let us unite one with the other and embrace the kindness, meekness and thoughtfulness of the Son of God and the hope of life to come. Easter demonstrates to us the importance of helping others and loving our neighbors – it actually restores our faith in the deeper values that bring us together regardless of religion, race or ethnic background.

Life contains hard challenges from time to time, but the message of Easter is a message of hope in the face of despair and of love triumphing over hatred and death and gives us strength that all might overcome – the powerful and the forgotten, the rich and the poor, the accepted and the marginalised. Easter certainly makes you smile! It shows you that new beginnings are possible.

Over two thousand years ago the only begotten Son of God gave His life for each one of us; it is through his shed blood that we are all saved. Through his death, burial and resurrection we are now restored to our original relationship with Christ, our creator who gives us hope for the future and offers us the promise of new life. The message of the Cross is one of forgiveness and reconciliation, yet so many who profess the name of Jesus find it hard to even say “sorry”. One of the most powerful moments of Easter was the prayer of Jesus asking God to forgive the very people who jeered at him and who led him to the authorities for his crucifixion. It’s hard to imagine a more improbable response to human cruelty. Yet there he was, hanging from a Roman cross, his broken, bleeding body screaming in pain. His words still pierce our hearts today: “Father, forgive them.” So let us forgive each other because our sins are forgiven, and we have the hope of heaven for one simple reason: Christ is risen!

Jesus brought to the world the message of hope, and love. “Love” even for our enemies. Just imagine what the world would be like if every one of us made a conscious effort to genuinely love one another. Yes, this is what Easter really says to us. God summons us to give up our old wrong attitudes to him, to say sorry and to entrust ourselves to Jesus and love our fellow men as he has loved us.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:7-10)

May the peace we can all know in Christ be yours this Easter and may the feet of God always walk with you.