Christmas has always been my most favorite time of the year. When I was a child, yes, it was about presents and Santa. My family did not go to church ever, so Christmas to me was the snow, the decorations, presents and Santa. As I gained a greater understanding of our Savior, Christmas had a much different and deeper meaning.
So, what is all this talk about Christmas, when the title is “A new thought about Easter”? Don’t get me wrong about Christmas, it is very important, but Easter to me is far more important. Easter is culmination of a great promise of the Love that God has for us. It is the icing on the cake, the cake that only God can offer his children. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, so that whoever believes in hi m shall not perish but have eternal life.” God has always been about Love, relationship and fellowship. He makes us righteous through his son, and to fulfill his want for a complete and full relationship with us, he Son rises after death. This is the hope that is given us.
We cannot have Easter without Christmas, but without Easter, we cannot be in heaven and be with our heavenly father. To be in heaven, and have the comfort knowing that no matter what, we too will conquer death and will spend eternity in perfect bodies, with the most perfect of all, God himself. I really just cannot think of a greater gift than the gift of perfection, eternal life and a perfect, lovingly, forever relationship with our God in heaven. When things seem their darkest, can we look to the manger? Sure, does it point the way to our final destination? What about looking at Easter in our times of trouble? Doesn’t it all come down to the end, or is that really the beginning?
It is not required that we are to worship on Sunday, nor are held by the Old Testament to worship our God on the Sabbath day, which for the Jews is Saturday. However, there is some reasoning and biblical truth to gathering for worship, teaching and preaching on Sunday, the first day of the week. Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday. Matthew 28:1 “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” Matthew 28:5-6a “5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.“
There is evidence that the early Christian Church also worshiped on Sunday. Acts 20:7a “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people”. When Paul wanted to collect monies from the church in Cornith, he did so on Sunday. 1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. “
After Jesus’s resurrection, he makes appearances on Sunday. John 20:26 “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ ” Revelation 1:12, 17-18a “12On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! “ “
What a gift indeed God has given us. A new life, perfect in every way, to be spent with Him forever. What a gift in that his resurrection was on a Sunday, and we can celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and God’s gift each and every Sunday.