Easter

What usually comes to mind when we think of Easter?

Most people associate Easter with ...
Easter bunnies. Chocolate. Decorated Easter eggs. Long weekends.

However, even if we combine all of the above, wouldn't they sound like trivial reasons for such a major celebration? (Although the choc-a-holics may beg to differ :)

Therefore, why do we celebrate Easter in the first place, and why is it such a big celebration?

In celebrating Easter, we celebrate Christ's resurrection, after His death on the cross for our sins. He died and rose again, which heralded an incredible change...
From old to new. From mourning to celebration. From despair to hope. From defeat to victory over sin and death. From death to life.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3: 16

Not because of who we are or what we can or cannot do, but because of who God is and what He has done.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2: 4-6

Because of His great and perfect love, we have been saved. Far greater than any painted egg or chocolate bunny :)