WHAT DOES EASTER REALLY MEAN

            

The first rays to reach from the fast rising sun
Penetrated the wide open room
And reflected back from the rolled-away stone,
Revealing a bare, empty tomb.

“He is gone,” the awe stricken gathering gasped,
“Behold, he no longer is here”
The historic resurrection of Christ was thus viewed
With mixtures of both joy and fear.

“He is risen! Oh yes, He is risen, indeed,”
His small faithful following exclaimed.
“What we have seen now has all been foretold
As He in His gospel proclaimed.”

So 2,000 years have elapsed in our time
Since the sight of that rolled-away stone,
And the Christians’ belief has been based on pure faith,
Not what is historically known.

Without resurrection, then Christ would have been
Not God here on earth, but mere man;
A great moral teacher with wisdom to share,
Not chosen for God’s Divine Plan.

This is, of course, what the skeptics point out
“No proof that he’s risen is known”
“He is risen? So what,” they laugh and they scoff.
This is how seeds of doubt are oft sown.

To the wavering and doubtful who seek factual proof,
And to those who are riding the fence,
Any talk about Christ being other than man,
To them it just doesn’t make sense.

To the most devout Christians, who rely on their faith,
No factual proof is required.
Their proof is the nearness to God that they feel,
And the love to which they are inspired.

© Shelby M. Forrest