With the arrival of spring and the renewal of nature around us, Easter brings hope and joy along with its festivities. Yet Easter eggs and bunnies continue to overshadow the true giver of the promise of abundance, renewal and joy: Jesus Christ. Can we crack the Easter code and make the biblical Easter story be the focus of Easter among the youth? Let’s find out!
Do young people understand the biblical Easter story?
Many will have heard about Jesus dying on the cross for humanity’s sins but most will never dive into the gospel and truly know what this means for us.
Young people often overlook the pain that Jesus faced knowing his impending fate and the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, one of his own disciples. They turn a blind eye to the extent of the humiliation and the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pain Jesus endured on what we now call Good Friday. They miss the concept of the overwhelming love and selflessness in God’s promises shown by Christ’s victory over sin and death in the resurrection and the blessing that is the Holy Spirit guiding us on earth.
Jesus didn’t just carry the cross. God humbled himself to the human body to carry the sin and pain of humanity. He took on the burdens that we could never handle ourselves and he understands our struggles. He gave us the possibility of stepping into a relationship with our Father. We now have the gift of grace and eternal life at peace with the Lord, the only one who loves us enough to never forsake us or leave us.
That sounds better than any gift or amount of chocolate an Easter bunny could ever offer.
Reaching young people with the hope of Easter
How can we reach young people with the biblical Easter story and the blessings that come from it? As the Lord does with all his children, we must meet the youth where they are.
Speaking from experience and the observation of my friends in our teenage years, none of us felt truly loved or seen. Some young people feel as if the entire world is against them. Young people feel lost and unsure of who they are, confused about how to ‘find themselves’ and their purpose. They are unsure of who they can trust and which friendships will last past high school. They make mistakes and feel weary. Personally, I found myself in Christ and the overwhelming love the biblical story of Easter showed me. I am confident that the focus of Easter can be brought back to Jesus and spread hope among the youth.
Let’s embrace the emotions and experiences of the young people and let’s speak of the love God has for each one of them. Let’s point out to them that Jesus conquers their struggles on the cross. Let’s show the young people that they are seen by their Father and loved by him. Let’s teach them that they belong in his kingdom and that they are a cherished part of Christ’s church.
Here are some important things that we all need to be reminded of.
God loves you.
God sees you.
God wants to hear from you.
God protects you.
God restores you.
God calls you by your name.
The best part is that none of this is limited to Easter time. Family gatherings, Easter eggs, Easter crafts and Easter parades will fade but a relationship with Jesus lasts forever and blossoms all year round. How amazing is this?
This Easter, keep hunting for blessings! Keep sharing those blessings with those around you. Unlike chocolate eggs and those hidden in games, Jesus hides his blessings in plain sight and they’re even better than Easter eggs. What’s more – they will never run out!