Since it is Easter on Sunday I will share with you something that I think is interesting and something I never knew until last week even though I have been a pastor's wife for more than fifty years.
I've always wondered where the idea of Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny came from. We never had the Easter Bunny when I was growing up in England but we did have Easter Eggs.. When I asked around about this custom I got the usual replies about them standing for fertility. But I couldn't see the connection with Easter in that answer.
However, I read "The Raj" by Leon Uris last week. We've had the book for years but I was never too interested in reading it. My husband having been to India tried to get me to read it many times. I won't take time to tell you now what prompted me to finally read it last week, but read it I did. It is about the life of Ghandi and the British rule in India.
So how does that have anything to do with Easter? Well, in the book I discovered that in the belief system of the Hindus birds are considered to be twice born: once when laid as an egg and the second time when the chick pecks its way out of the egg. Now THAT idea I really understand in connection with Easter. We are all born once when we come into this world. But Jesus says we are to be born a second time. Nicodemus didn't understand that comment from Jesus and perhaps mockingly or maybe truly curiously he asked how a man could be born again. Would he have to be born from his mother's womb again?
We know from the rest of Jesus's teaching that He meant that we had to shuck off the shell of the old life and breath deeply into the New Life. The New Life is given when an individual accepts Jesus's death on the cross as the payment for our sins and also accept His resurrection as the gift of our Second Birth, or second life, if you like, which begun here on earth will continue forever more in the New World.
So now I feel better about the whole idea of Easter Eggs but the Easter Bunny???...
11 comments:
How interesting, Chris. I always thought that the eggs were symbolic of the stone being rolled away from JESUS' tomb and just generally for new life. Thank you; this gives a whole new context. You know, our God is amazing ...
As for the Easter bunny...hmm... he seems to be insidiously creeping into England now. I've had such a hard job finding chocolate pascal lambs for the boys, this year, but bunnies are hopping everywhere! x
Chris, your last line made me laugh. Thanks for the easter egg possibility. I've always wondered too, though I still am not sure that was the basis for their incarnation. I like it though. I also often wonder about the differences in Christian tradition between countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, and other European Christian nations. Why? I am not sure. Possibly because religion has always been quite intertwined with politics in history. With the papacy and the Church of England...it just in my head never lines up with the born again Christian movement so I often wonder what services are like, if they are steeped in tradition and liturgy (if that is the right word), or moved by emotion and the heart. (I speak from ignorance and curiosity, not making any kind of statement.) So, to read your words this morning, I am quite touched!!
If you don't mind me interjecting, Auumn Leaves, I think that, wherever you are in the world, there are those who simply bear the name, 'Christian' because of their baptism/tradition/heritage and would regard that as enough, but also those who know JESUS as their Redeemer, Saviour and Lord and live their lives endeavouring to walk with Him.
Passiontide is such a wonderful opportunity to witness for our Lord and to lift His precious and wonderful Name above all the earth, that those who do not know Him personally - be they churchgoers or not - might see His majesty and be brought to bow the knee before Him. Lift JESUS higher. x
Can't seem to be able to comment on your previous post. Anyway, I have some King's Singers; nice version, though I'm more familiar with the Alison Krauss version.
On behalf of the ABC Wednesday team, thank you!
I had always heard that Estar the godness of fertility was where the word came from... I never researched it! I like what you share about the Easter Eggs. Last night I put our memory verse addresses in plastic eggs and had the ladies review their verses that way.
As far as the Easter Bunny.... Well, you know where I stand Spiritually!! But as we don't believe in Santa Claus, but he is part of the World's Christmas, so the Bunny is the World's idea too...but who is gonna deliver those eggs?????????????????
Just kidding with you Chris...I posted a pink bunny on my art blog....Yikes!!!
That's really an interesting thought, about the 'twice-born' chick, and comparing it to being born-again in Jesus.
I have pictures in my mind from books of my childhood, of bunnies cavorting around in the sunshine after a long, cold winter's hibernation, symbolizing the arrival of spring.
Well, regardless of the origin of the symbols, Jesus is the reason for the season! He is the reason why there is a statutory holiday (in Canada anyway) on Good Friday - and why churches are full on Easter Sunday!
Very interesting and thought provoking post Chris.
Just wanting to wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter.
Sue
I just had read the history of Easter trying to understand why we have rabbits and chicken eggs nowadays. I don't get it. I wonder why Jesus and his resurrection isn't enough? It is a lot like Christmas -- the messages get lost in the merchandising so I am guessing that retailers had a lot to do with what goes on sale at holidays.
Happy Easter to you & yours!
We are off to Scarborough today so I will wave to the cliffs for you!
Happy Resurrection Day! We had a lovely service this morning and I hope you did too. Our day was beautiful. Hope yours was too.
Could you feel the earthquake at your house? It was a 6.9 That is BIG!
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