The Meaning of Easter - Pt. 2

 

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, ia ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, lwe know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born oagain he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-8 ESV).

 

Today we being with one of the most common Easter traditions… Easter eggs! Among ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures, eggs symbolized life and rebirth. Eggs held similar significance in pre-Christian cultures across Europe. Their inclusion into the celebration of Easter as a symbol of the resurrection occurred fairly early in Church history. Early Mesopotamian Christians dyed Easter eggs red, as a symbol of Christ’s blood. This tradition of dyeing and decorating Easter eggs likely spread from the Eastern Church to the Western Church and by the Middle Ages the practice had become widespread throughout Europe.

 

In Medieval Europe, eggs were also one of the common foods from which Christians abstained during the 40 days of Lent. It should be no surprise then that Christians included them in the celebration of Easter, both by decorating them and eating them during the Easter feast. By the 17th century, the Roman Catholic Church had even included an Easter blessing for eggs in their official rites. The decorating of Easter eggs hit its peak of extravagance in the 19th century, when Russian royalty exchanged jewel-covered eggs at Easter. Many of these were commissioned by the famous jewelry firm, House of Fabergé. Today, most families dye eggs all different colors for Easter. For many it is little more than a cultural tradition, but for some, the eggs still represent the new life that the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ offer to all who believe. It is a great reminder of Jesus’ teaching in our reading today… to have eternal life, we must be born again; and, that happens through the work of Jesus!