What do we do now?

Like Christmas, Easter Sunday is an annual occasion for indulging ourselves on treats, smiling about public holidays, and possibly giving a second thought to Jesus.

Even if you give Jesus more time than that between mouthfuls of chocolate, Easter Sunday can still be an odd celebration of a life, death and resurrection.

What’s odd about it is that every year, one day is set aside for such a celebration. One day. That’s it.

So, what do we do when it’s not Easter Sunday?

Is it okay to celebrate or commemorate that Jesus rose from the dead? Or should we wait till next year?

Why did Jesus defeat death?

If you think the answer is to hold off until next Easter Sunday, you’re not getting that advice from Jesus.

When Jesus did the impossible and came back to life after his crucifixion death, he didn’t call for an annual celebration in his honour.

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with such a celebration, there is something not right about limiting yourself to worshipping Jesus only once per year.

Jesus didn’t defeat death so we could throw him a party with hot-cross buns, every year.

As Jesus told his closest friends just after his resurrection, he defeated death so that “repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name for all the nations” (Luke 24:47).

There’s no mention there of an annual event. Just a blanket statement about getting a message to all the nations. Apparently without it being restricted to one particular day.

Everyday, for every day

Jesus’ instruction to his first disciples were more everyday, for every day. He instructed them to go out and teach other people “to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Again, there’s no mention of limiting that to one day per year.

When it comes to proclaiming, following, observing and praising Jesus, he didn’t rise from the dead so that we forget to celebrate him for 364 days each year.

Instead we are instructed to live a life a resurrection life. What is this you ask? Jesus took all our sins with him to the cross and sacrificed himself so we could be reconciled to God. So a resurrection life is one committed to living out what Jesus instructed us — to love our neighbour, care for the stranger and seek to carry out the many ways God instructs us to seek His will for our lives. Something that will last into eternity – a lot longer than those hot cross buns.

Ben McEachen