Who’s getting excited enough about Easter to get a “new outfit”-maybe not a bunny suit, but a fresh, pastel-colored wardrobe addition of your choice this spring? If I had to guess, many of us don’t feel that same giddy or at-least-anticipatory outlook toward this special, special day…that has nothing do to without physical clothing or any other superficial thing for that matter and everything to do with the empty grave clothes of the Son of God, our living, breathing again Redeemer. As I am preparing for Resurrection Sunday, the familiar hymns and brand-new anthems of this familiar season are beginning to fill my office, home, car, AND THAWING HEART. I am rediscovering that celebrating the empty tomb of Jesus is still/should still be my favorite of our God-given, annual celebrations.

Here are a few meaningful, epic reasons why:

It unmistakably, boldly validates the Word of God!

Mt. 28:6 “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

It affirms the one-of-a-kind power of Jesus!

Jn 10:18a “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

It replaces our other-wise unavoidable misery with a flood of hope!

1 Co 15:19-20 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

It assures us of reunion with every believer that has preceded us in death!

 1 Th 4:14, 18 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

It gives us a perpetual, dynamic reason to gather for worship and ministry every Sunday, not just Easter Sunday, with the body of Christ!

1 Co 16:2 “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

It provides us and everyone family member, neighbor, coworker, new acquaintance in our lives what to believe and confess to receive eternal life ourselves!

Ro 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Don’t be tempted, church leader, parent, other spiritual influencer, to “back off” or “tone down” your Easter celebration this year. Go all out, not for a numerical goal or elevated profile, but to simply make much of a Jesus that conquered death, hell, and the grave for us. That is all worth shouting about. Inviting others to get in on it. Crafting a dynamic worship service. Upgrading your facilities, guest services, etc. Tapping into the creativity and spiritual giftedness of your local assembly. I can’t wait to see in our church and hear in yours how the resurrected Jesus shows up as He promised! Now that’s a big deal!

Mt 18:19-20 “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

I recently read this insightful dialogue between a well-known Christian author and an eight-year-old friend of hers:

8yo: Who is the most famous person in the world?
Her: Jesus
8yo: I mean who is alive today?
Me: Still Jesus.

If it’s still about Jesus, then Easter can and should be a big deal! Whose with me? More importantly, whose with the most famous person STILL ALIVE, our Living Savior?!

Photo by Aivar Grigorjev on Unsplash