Easter Bread

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”- John 12: 23-25

I probably should have written this on Wednesday. It’s not possible to get three days and three nights between Friday and Sunday morning. Paul says in Acts 17:30 that God at times winks at our ignorance. I think that’s proof that God does understand our nature as humans to lean towards tradition.

Another aspect of this season is the Easter Bunny. What does this have to do with Jesus? The bunny represents fertility, the ability to multiply abundantly. Instead of complaining about the Pagan roots that are stuck in Christianity, how about another perspective to stir the pure mind.

“unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” – verse 24.
Have you taken a look at the harvesting of wheat? It’s more amazing and abundant than any rabbit can reproduce. Here we find Jesus saying unless a grain dies it cannot reproduce. Jesus was referring to Himself, unless He died He would not be able to multiply Himself. Unless He died other children of God would not be produced for earth to see God’s glory. He had to die to multiply. God’s idea of multiplying goes beyond natural fertility. It’s spiritual – the concept of being born again, made new. Each person alive now has the opportunity to attain the nature and character of God.

Jesus, our Messiah, was and still is the perfect example. He testified that God’s word is true and fulfilled it through His death and resurrection. Though that was good enough, the aim was also for Jesus to have a bunch of Mini-mes. A replica of His nature, His heart, His love, His power and His salvation extending through all who believe. Jesus said, as the Father has sent me, so send I you. As Jesus abounds in the Father’s Love so we are commanded to abide in the vine to bear fruit.
Jesus has been multiplying Himself for thousands of years now and He will continue until the time appointed for His return. I’m grateful to have an opportunity to share in God’s grand salvation plan of sending His Son to lose His life to gain the lives of humanity. No bunny can do that.

I encourage all of us to ponder God’s redemption plan this season. The Easter bunny doesn’t represent this season for me, the Cross could, the Empty Tomb could, how about a field of wheat? How about wheat that in turn makes bread and Jesus is the bread of life and we break bread the Word of God and we share this bread (Jesus Christ) and whoever believes gains life.