I heard the other day a radio listener call in and ask "What is more important, Christmas or Easter?" I hadn't considered this question before and thought about it all day. Which is more important? And exactly what do they mean in today's time? The thought occurred to me that it's not which is more important but what they mean in the conversation between God and us.
I think Christmas is our seeking God. I think Christmas is our begging God to reveal himself and to save us from ourselves. It's like a question. Down through the ages man has gone to God, asking him to reveal himself to us. "Send us a savior!" "Save us", "Heal us". People needed someone to save them from themselves. Someone who championed on their behalf. They had people who could perform miracles. They had people who could heal. Yet they had no one who could defeat death, a sentence that was suffered by all people, rich or poor. Romans died. Jews died. Pagans died. They needed someone to address their fears. It is fear that keeps us from God. Fear presents itself as a gulf, a deep divide between us and God. It is fear that makes us cry out to God to save us.
On Easter, one man conquered death. One man, one God, was able to fulfill all their desires. Easter is the answer to Christmas. Christmas is our pleading with God. Easter is God answering our prayers. There is now no death, no life, no breath that will ever separate us from the love of a father who has always been there. It is we who couldn't get to Him until He prepared a way for that to happen.
I hope and pray that Easter is experienced by all, on a deep, personal level. Easter is our hope. Easter is our blessing. Easter is our answer to the question of Christmas.
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