Bunnies Do Not Lay Eggs

The worst Easter sermon that I have ever heard was from a guest pastor who visited my childhood Church. He really hated Peter Cottontail, and other seemingly pagan trappings of Easter.

The preacher warned that the holiday was named after the Germanic goddess Ostara, and that rabbits were an offering from those who came to worship her. And our beloved Easter eggs were not spared in his sermon, for apparently they came from cults and symbolized fertility.

As he closed his message the preacher, in good Baptist fashion, called us to be “Biblical”, and implored parents:

Tell your children that bunnies do not lay eggs.

Rejoice Or Be Right?

Years later, while reflecting on that awful Easter sermon, I found myself a pastor facing concerns about the holiday. Parents sought to be Biblical, as all Christians parents, and Christians in general, should. They wanted nothing more than to honor Christ while raising up their children.

Though not yet a parent or married, I understood their worry. Furthermore, I understood a fear of loss that they were carrying.

What if they had to lose the painted eggs for Jesus?

What if they had to lose the jelly beans for Jesus?

What if they had to lose the colorful clothes for Jesus?

What if they had to lose the chocolate bunnies for Jesus?

In the end, the parents meant well with their concerns about Easter, and in response I encouraged them to get away from “being right”. Of course, we must Biblical and turn from what is false. But Easter is about rejoicing for the gift that Christ has given us.

A Season of Gratitude

While training for the ministry, a professor told me this:

Easter is more than one day where we celebrate the Resurrection. In fact, it is a season, called Eastertide, where we show our Lord gratitude. He gifted us life by giving His own, and we thank Him by living it to the fullest.

Though many of our traditions might have pagan connections, they entail good things within this world that can and are meant to be enjoyed. We can still have fun coloring eggs while questioning their origins. We can still eat take jelly beans, which came from Boston, and pick out the flavors that we don’t like. We can still dress up in colorful clothes and feel dapper. And we can still eat chocolate bunnies without feeling like idol worshipers.

When we rightly enjoy such good things, we tell Jesus, “Thank You!” He receives gratitude that He deserves, and we take up the gift that He has given.

That We Might Live

Many Christians, and non-Christians alike, think that Jesus died to stop the wrath of God. But the truth is He died that we might simply live. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly [John 10:10], and this is the point of Eastertide and all of its traditions.

Through the cross and stony tomb, Jesus opened the door for a better tomorrow. A tomorrow that should be boldly embraced without the fear of failure of punishment. As I told the parents years ago,

You will not always be biblical, but you will always have a gracious God Who is with and not against you.

In addition to having life, Eastertide tells us that God is for us, and calls us to daily enjoy good things in a world that He made good. So in this season enjoy the jelly beans, colored eggs, and chocolate bunnies without fear. And make this a practice for all seasons, even those that are mundane.

Strive to delight each day in the good things around you, and by this you will have an abundant life and live it to the fullest.