It’s Easter Time, an amazing conglomeration of buns, bunnies, chocolate and a 4 day long weekend.

For christians, though, Easter is much, much more. It’s a celebration of love and life.

Easter really starts at Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus was not just any baby. He was God in the flesh. And you might think that if you were the God in charge of everything in the whole of creation, you might come into the world to impose a rule of iron over a wayward human race.

You would be wrong.

Jesus came not to rule over governments and nations, but to serve people. He performed miracles of healing and restoration. He embraced lepers and other outcasts. He mixed with the so-called scum of society. He showed these people that, even though the established religion pushed them away, God really loved them with an extravagant love.

Then, after three years of preaching His radical message, He was arrested and sentenced to death. People thought they were eliminating a pest, but God’s plans were greater.

On Good Friday, we recall that Jesus, the Son of God, died on a cross. In dying, He took the sins of every human being upon Himself and said “You are forgiven.” That really is a Good Friday.

Jesus was buried in a tomb. The experts said that you could only be certain that somebody had really died and their soul had left their body, by the third day after their death.

So on the third day, Easter Sunday, the most amazing miracle took place. Jesus, was alive again. He had conquered death. He proved that you cannot keep a good man down, especially when that man is God.

That is what Easter is about.

By His death on the cross, 2000 years ago, Jesus paid the price for my sins and yours. When He rose from the dead, He proved that there is life after death for everyone who puts their trust in Him.

Make this weekend the time you discover life. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins. Go to your favourite church and discover a whole new life.