Dr. Billy Holland

April is the month of new beginnings when the grass turns green, trees begin to sprout their leaves, and flowers emerge from the ground to express their beauty. This is also the time when Christians celebrate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God's infinite love for us is the foundation of the Christian faith, for without Jesus being raised to conquer death, hell, and the grave, there would be no sacrifice sufficient to forgive us from our sins. You see, His perfect blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat of Heaven and was the only payment that was holy and powerful enough to save the spirits of those who believe. John 19:30 declares the Son of God cried from the cross, "It is finished," which guaranteed the covenant authority of God's word as the greatest hope the world can ever know. Eternal salvation is now available for all who hear the gospel, are convicted to repent, and choose to embrace Him by faith as their Lord.

The gospel is known as the good news, a life-changing promise of forgiveness the world desperately needs. Like many of you, I have dedicated my life to sharing this gospel, believing it to be the power leading to salvation for all who accept it. What is this gospel? It centers on the precious blood that Jesus freely gave when He endured suffering and died on our behalf. After three days in the tomb, He rose, inaugurating the covenant of our salvation as part of God's plan to ransom, redeem, transform, and restore all who commit themselves to Him. The Bible records the most profound love story, and many of you know the verses in Matthew 28:5-6 where angels greet the women at the empty tomb: "The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know you are seeking Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen as He said! Come, see the place where He lay."

It's required within our great commission to relay the good news, to emphasize the glorious significance of what His sacrifice and resurrection accomplished, what it guarantees for those who believe, and how we can have a blessed assurance of these glorious promises today. I personally do not use the word Easter as it is widely accepted to originate from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess Eostre. In Scandinavia, she was called Ostra, and in Germania, Eastre. Others link it to Astarte, the Phoenician fertility goddess, who was idolized as the Babylonian counterpart Ishtar. Rabbits and eggs are symbols of fertility and were the theme of many ancient European and Middle Eastern festivals, including Persian, Egyptian, and Druid cultures, often accompanied by the wearing of new clothing to greet the goddess of spring. Sunrise services celebrated the vernal equinox by worshiping the sun and its great power, and there is so much more. So, why in the world would we who worship the majesty of Christ celebrate the traditions of pagan festivals?

According to Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, "The hunt for Easter eggs, supposedly brought by the Easter rabbit, is not mere child's play, but the vestige of a fertility rite and the blessings associated with procreating. Some cultures believed that the decorated Easter egg "could magically bring happiness, prosperity, health, and protection." All Christians should research holidays like Easter, Christmas, and Halloween to understand what they are really about. For Messianic Jews, the First Fruits (Bikkurim) feast falls within the Passover season, specifically the day after the Sabbath following Passover, which corresponds to the timing of the resurrection.

Holy week is about what happened to the Lamb of God and how it pertains to mankind. He is risen! Our greatest enemy, death, has been conquered! Our sins can be forgiven, and we can become born-again as God's children! Let us rejoice and praise Him for His endless love and mercy! Ephesians 1:18-21. "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, teacher, and author. Read more about the Christian life at Billyhollandministries.com.