Curiosity is always a great motivator. The easy availability of information that search engines provide us with means that pressing questions can be answered.
Do an internet search on eggs and Easter and traditions dating back hundreds of years, in areas that are now modern-day Iran, Iraq, Egypt, southern Europe and India are readily described. The orthodox and catholic traditions of dyeing eggs are also described in great detail. Eastern European cultural or ecclesiastical variants are also noted as one reads further into a search’s results.
The symbolism is mixed – in some traditions, the use of red is a memorial to the spilling of Christ’s blood. In others, the egg is a metaphor for the tomb, representing new life not fully realised. Actions like cracking the egg are meant to symbolise release from the bondage of death … and, in truth, there are many more ways of describing how eggs and Easter can go together.
For me, one thing is for sure. The narrative of the first Easter, be it focused on the horror of Good Friday, the desperation of the weekend that followed, or the triumph of that first Easter Sunday – this true, historically-tested, story all centres on one thing. That is, the certainty that Jesus Christ, God incarnate (God in human form living amongst the people he created), was without blame. In spite of this, he chose to take our punishment for our sins upon himself, punishment that meant death, separation from God the Father – a descent into hell. The final part of this story is that he was completely and utterly victorious over death – he rose from the dead and met with several hundred people before ascending to heaven.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18
It’s all about Christ – what he did for us, once and for all. In plain sight, in full view. We can now have a completely restored relationship with God for eternity, imperfect though we are in this earthly life, because Christ acted in this way.
My twitter account gets a feed from @CSLewisDaily – today’s tweet of this great theologians wise words was this tremendous reflection, “It cost God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things: but to convert rebellious wills cost Him crucifixion.”
If it takes symbols to remind us of these truths, that’s OK with me. If it makes this story easier to tell, so be it. As long as the symbols point to the truth and don’t replace it. As long as they cause us to be eternally thankful to God for what he did for us in the person of Christ.
Have a truly blessed Easter with your loved ones.
educating 4 life, too 
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