The Greatest Gift(s) On Easter

The Greatest Gift(s) on Easter

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”

John 11:25

Amish children gather around the living room to listen to the familiar Easter story. Their father shares how Jesus died on the cross. He explains how the saddest day turned into the happiest when the women and the disciples discovered Jesus had risen indeed! The story of Jesus’ resurrection is the most important part of Easter in the Amish home.

If you step into most American homes on Easter mornings, you’ll find gifts, candy, baskets, and bunnies. The Amish do not bow to this commercialization. Their celebrations are simple. If Easter falls on a “church” Sunday, the Amish attend church, but they do not have a special celebration marking Easter. The sermon that day does include Scripture that speaks of Jesus’ resurrection. If Easter Sunday is an off-Sunday, they celebrate together as a family at home.

Easter dinner is no different from any other Sunday meal, except that boiled eggs and horseradish are added to the menu. Later in the day some Amish families may color eggs. Food coloring and vinegar are used. It’s an exciting time with a dozen small hands dipping and turning the eggs and a multitude of voices speaking at once. Dozens and dozens of eggs are decorated, and some are peeled almost as soon as they are colored.

Where do you put your focus on Easter? Do you spend more time considering a new Easter outfit than you do the gift of eternity in heaven? Because of Jesus, death has no hold on us. If we believe in Him, we get two great gifts—His presence with us here on earth and eternity with Him in heaven. Consider how you can transform your thoughts from the celebration of a day to rejoicing in these gifts from the Savior.

Dear heavenly Father, today I center my heart on Jesus. He not only provided this greatest gift through His death and resurrection, He is my greatest gift!