The message of easter

Christmas is all about the birth of the baby Jesus, the beginning of a perfect life.  It conjures up images of mangers and angels, wise men from afar and stars that shine brightly in the skies.  Everyone loves babies and everyone loves Christmas!

The images of Easter, however, are far different.  Easter is the story of the end of a perfect life.  Apart from chocolate bunnies and children in new clothes, the images of Easter are not pretty.  In fact, they can be gruesome and disturbing.  They are images of torch bearing soldiers being led through the night by a man bent on betrayal.  They are images of swords and clubs, and a whip ripping through the flesh of a man who never did anything wrong.  Reflect on Easter and the reflections will be of angry mobs, denying disciples, ruthless, hypocritical religious leaders, crowns of thorns and a blood stained cross where the Son of God hung on nails that were pounded through his hands and feet.