Glen Park Gospel Church >> Editorial >> Feature

Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Anything that may be of mild interest will be published here.

Rabbits and Eggs

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Isaiah 43:19

Osterhase is German for Easter Hare and is first described in 1678 by the physician Georg Franck von Franckenau in south-west Germany. At the time, the tradition was not known elsewhere in Germany. Only good children would receive dyed eggs from the Easter Bunny. During Lent, some Christians would abstain from eating meat and animal products, including eggs, until Easter Sunday. And so there would be celebration on breaking the fast.

A hare or rabbit is a symbol of fertility and eggs a symbol of new life. They represent the virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, and Jesus Christ's resurrection. While it is easy for us to see these Easter trappings as frivolous, they are in fact directly founded in Christian tradition and serve to teach children of God’s goodness in providing repair of our sinful nature.

There were of course no rabbits or eggs in the biblical Easter narrative. On this page over the past several months we have explored one or other aspect of the Gospel message; from our creation, through sin and God's standard, from due punishment to God's gift in Jesus Christ taking on that punishment in our stead. It can be a hard message to understand and even more difficult to welcome. There is little wonder that over the ages people have found ways to tell the message in other forms.

Next time I say 'Well, the real message of Easter is...', pull me up and remind me that the chocolate figures are a helpful part of it too.

Thought for the Month

"A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act."
Mahatma Gandhi

"God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 'I love you.'"
Billy Graham

"Christ the Lord is risen today, sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens and earth reply."
Charles Wesley

"His crucifixion is the key; His resurrection is the door... it is only by his death that we have the mandate to enter into the gates of eternal life. His doors are open always."
Israelmore Ayivor

The Three Year Bible readings will continue to cycle on this site as usual, click here.

For past features (since 1995) see our archive

Home || Back || Feature || Quick Verse || Think || Skeptics
Church Info || Gospel || Editorial || History || Easter || Bible Studies || Missions || Archive || Site Map || Privacy