Extravagance of Easter- Part 1

Extravagance is a word that carries with it a sense of excess and flamboyance.  To say that something is extravagant is to say that it is costly and dwells within the realm of the extreme.

Easter is most definitely a time of extravagance, not because of the dollars spent on chocolate eggs or tasty treats. Not because of the road trips and family gatherings, as memorable as they may be.

Easter is the ultimate expression of the extravagant love of God.

Easter is this: God, the uncreated One, creating all things for our good and his glory.  God, the timeless One, entering into our time-space continuum in order to identify with the confines of earthly life so that he could catapult us into the next.  God, the perfect One, rubbing shoulders with the imperfections of humanity and still remaining pure. God the Father sending Jesus Christ the Son so that his Holy Spirit could live within each believer, empowering them to live in the Resurrection now.

Does this sound a bit elusive?  Let me lay it for you straight:

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes him him would not die, 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."
- Jesus
(John 3:16-17)

Easter is the celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Easter is living in the reality that that which has fallen into decay can indeed become alive once again.  Because of Easter, everyday is rich with hope, and dripping with purpose.

Easter is extravagant.

Please read the next post to see how I personally celebrated the extravagance of Easter here in New Zealand!