It’s Not About the Bunny

Today is Easter (or “Resurrection Sunday” as some Christians prefer calling it). According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, Easter is “the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and held between March 21 and April 25, on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox.”

Some Christians avoid using the term Easter because it’s believed to have originated from the name of a goddess associated with spring. However, Easter is mentioned in the King James Bible. Acts 12:4 (KJV) says, “And when he [Herod] had apprehended him [Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” Other translations use “Passover” instead of Easter.

Just like with Christmas, Easter has pagan practices associated with it. Probably the most famous of which is children receiving candy from a character known as the Easter Bunny. This tradition originated among German Lutherans. It was brought to America in the 18th century by immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area.

My parents taught my sister and me to believe in the Easter Bunny when we were little. One night before Easter, Tanya placed a carrot on the living room table to see if it would be eaten. The next morning, she noticed the carrot had teeth marks in it. Tanya believed this proved the Easter Bunny was real. While my parents may have done that for fun, propagating this mythical character takes away from the true meaning of the holiday.

Believing in a bunny won’t remit anybody’s sins. Easter is about honoring the risen Savior.

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” - Romans 6:4

Pass Me the Peeps

Some Christians prefer to call Easter “Resurrection Sunday.” One reason is the word Easter supposedly derived from the name of a goddess associated with spring. Because of this, a few Christians consider Easter a pagan holiday and distance themselves from it.

Nevertheless, modern dictionaries define Easter as a Christian festival. It’s also worth noting the word Easter is found in the King James Bible; “And when he [Herod] had apprehended him [Peter], he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:4)

I believe one can get too religious about certain holidays. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Easter is an excellent time to tell sinners about what the Savior did for them so they have the opportunity to receive eternal life.  

One time in Charleston, South Carolina, I took part in an Easter Party Outreach held in a neighborhood park. We reached out to the community with the love of Jesus by giving away food, Easter baskets, and most importantly the gospel. In and around a prayer tent, I got to lead seven people to the Lord plus encouraged a backslider to “slide back” to God. More people received salvation at the end when a local pastor delivered a short sermon and then conducted a group prayer.

As a kid, I received candy from “the Easter Bunny.” When I later found out the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy were fictional characters, I questioned God’s existence for many years. Parents shouldn’t deceive their children like that. Easter is not about some rabbit delivering candy but a risen Savior who delivered us from eternal damnation. 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”  

Let’s tell the world what Easter is truly about...and if offered to me, I will still enjoy some Easter candy. Pass me the Peeps!

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” 

- Colossians 2:16-17