The Celebration of Christ's Ascension

by Ben Parker

While we have fun with psuedo-pagan gimmicks to sell sweets at what is traditionally a celebration of spring and restoration of life, Easter is also the day that Jesus was miraculously resurrected from death.

While some would suggest that the time of year was co-opted by the Christian church, there isn't really much to co-opt, since his death took place on Passover, a real Jewish holiday which also happens to be this time of year.

When thinking about the events that transpired in the Christ story, one wonders if all that he went through was necessary. Actually, a lot of it was. Everything that Christ suffered after his arrest, is very much symbolic of what we may have to endure come the Judgement at the end of his thousand year reign.

After all, he was meant to be a sacrifice for the whole world, paying the blood debt for all our sins, past, present, and future.

- He was arrested for crimes against the established order. - Born into sin, we have a tendency for wanton rebellion and selfishness, leading to sin (which is simply disobeying God's commands).


- He was tried and found wanting. (Though, in actuality, he was blameless according to the executioner of the law - but that was required of him for his role.) - We, too, will be put on trial, our life examined in minute detail.

            Tangent: We may think that god will spare us because he's a good guy. He made us, he loves us. However, he also established what he considers heinous crimes. As a good guy, he can't let justice go unanswered. That's why he will have to uphold judgment. Think about the big 10. Have you done any one of those things? I know I have. Have you even thought about doing any one of those things? Absolutely. Guess what? That means I'm a criminal.

- Finally, his sentence was prescribed, and he was punished. He died. - As guilty criminals, we too will have to face our punishment, and the wages of sin is death.

But, that finally doesn't have to be our fate. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb. Sacrifice! God established it as a means of hiding our sins so that we would actually be blameless. Christ, being his son and blameless, was the ultimate sacrifice. As his son, he inherits his father's traits. He is perpetual. His sacrifice won't be temporary. By going through the mock trial, he has offered to take our place at the stand when the evidence is weight and the sentence given.

- And, what of those who didn't have a chance?

Well, wait, there was more to the story. It didn't end in Jesus's death. He spent time in death and hell. He had a job there, as well. But, ultimately, he came back to life! - If his story is a reflection of the trial we face, then we, too, who have to spend our time in reformation will ultimately be set free. Our debt paid to the last cent, we will also be resurrected to join the father.

And, if you want proof, he wasn't the only one resurrected in the bible. Everyone is familiar with Lazarus. However, god loves to do things in 3s, and there is a third example in the old testament. Read Jonah's prayer to God in Chapter 2 of the book of his name. He died, and God resurrected him after three days.

We'll expand on that later.

For the time being, that is what Easter is about. Restoration of life.

Remember that when you're eating sweet candy droppings left by a fictitious, colorful rabbit.