Sunday past, Garrett Conner preached at LaPlata Baptist Church from Matthew 1. I loved how he started by talking about anticipation. How we look forward to an anticipated event such as: upcoming graduation, wedding, birthday, holiday. How now Christmas music starts three minutes after Halloween is over. Then we are excited for Christmas to come, then the new year, and bring on Easter as it brings the Spring. Wait don’t forget 4th of July with its hot dogs and hamburgers. Hurry up Labor Day, or as my friend Lee calls it, “The most wonderful time of the year!” Finally we get back around to Thanksgiving – we missed it the first time around because we pushed Christmas through right after Halloween.  Garrett said, and I quote, “Anticipation has us looking forward, pushing us to push away time to get to the next whatever.”

Well, Matthew (in the New Testament of the Bible) gives us cause to pause. Many Jews were waiting for the highly anticipated coming of the Messiah, as David’s throne had been vacant for over 600 years. Matthew was overjoyed to share that the Messiah had come in the person of Jesus the Christ. In Matthew 1:1-17, Matthew shows the proof that Jesus is the son of David, the son of Abraham through the display of Jesus’ genealogy. He even spelled it out through the use of the Hebrew letters by using 14, 14, and 14 which spelled out David.

And, one of the points that I always find fascinating is the mention in this text of the four mothers: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and  Bathsheba all were probably non-Jewish women. A sneak preview of God’s message of salvation being for Jews and Gentiles alike.

So, what does this have to do with Easter baskets? In anticipation for Easter we prepare our outfits, our baskets, our lamb, etc. But what do we do with the real reason for the most holy of Christian holidays – Jesus Christ? Where does he fit into your celebration and preparation. Just like Christmas, Easter’s focal point is Jesus Christ.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25, and we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus on Easter. Without Christmas there could be no Easter, and without Easter there would be no forgiveness for our hell bound sins.

So, just a few more things as I sat listening to Garrett last Sunday:

1) Salvation (forgiveness from the damnation of our sins) is promised to us through Jesus. Matthew 1:21 says, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Wow, right there in black and white, Jesus will save me from my sins. This is something I can’t be good enough to do on my own.

2) God came in human form. In Matthew 1:18 it says, “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” Praise God! Jesus had a unique birth (Matthew 1:18), a unique purpose (Matthew 1:21), and on Easter Sunday we celebrate Jesus for fulfilling his promise and purpose (my own words not Garrett’s) (Matthew 28:5-6: The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”)

My last point, as I know this post is long. Garrett said, in so many words, have fun with the Easter bunny and basket, but remember why there is an Easter in the first place. When we each stand before God who is completely righteous, we need to be cleansed of our guilt and that can only be done through Jesus. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.