According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest chocolate Easter bunny was created in Brazil back in 2017 by The Chocolate House Team. This massive sculpture weighed over 9,000 pounds and stood 15 feet tall and 7 feet wide. I think my wife and I could have polished it off in a week. We love chocolate that much.
And what happened to the largest chocolate bunny in history? After time on display, he was broken into tiny pieces and distributed to local charities.
The Easter Bunny originated in Germany; the earliest known mentions of the Easter hare date back to the 1500s. German Lutherans believed this mythical creature left colourful eggs in nests for well-behaved children. I guess Santa isn’t the only one checking a list of the naughty and nice.
My parents weren’t big fans of the Easter Bunny. They had fun hiding a few eggs around the house, but make no mistake, the central focus of our Easters was the death and resurrection of Jesus.
At the risk of sounding silly, let’s compare the claims of the Easter Bunny with the claims of Jesus.
The Easter bunny spreads candy and chocolate around—sounds sweet to me—but, bunnies don’t last. In the wild, they live about a year. And the store-bought Easter variety are eaten and forgotten in about two days. Whereas, the gift Jesus offers us has no expiry date, doesn’t get eaten, doesn’t get old. “The free gift of God is eternal life,” says Romans 6:23 (NLT), “through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sure beats a melting bunny.
But, you say, the Easter bunny is cute, cuddly and fluffy. I know, but a rabbit is not what you order when you need rescuing. On Easter morning, Jesus rose, conquering death, hell, and the grave, breaking the power of sin and Satan, making a way for us to know God.
The Easter bunny leaves eggs, then leaves. Once Easter is over, stores clear out the chocolate section, tear down the bunny’s decorations and posters, making way for the next major money-maker, Mother’s Day.
But Jesus sticks with us. He’s there in the good times and bad. He takes up residence in you when you ask, and stays through the trials and storms, saying, “Peace be still.” His love is never-ending. His desire is a relationship with you.
God didn’t look at the human race and say, “These people need more chocolate.” He knew we needed a Saviour. And He did what it took to make that happen. He’s there to help lead and guide you, if you’ll let Him.
We were shopping a few days ago with grandkids who are learning about Easter and about Jesus, but all they could see was bunnies. Chocolate bunnies. Plastic eggs. Fuzzy rabbits. Everywhere. Now, I don’t expect Walmart to have a Resurrection display. And I’m not anti-egg; I’m not about to picket rabbits.
But one couldn’t help thinking that Easter, the single most important event in Christianity, has been hijacked and diluted.
So how do we keep Christ at the center of the holiday?
By doing what believers have done down through history. By celebrating Easter as more than a holiday. It’s a Holy Day. It’s the hinge on which human history swings. Chuck Swindoll said,
“Everything we believe, every prayer we pray, every promise we cling to, rests on whether or not Jesus actually died and actually rose. And He did.” Amen Chuck.
The tomb is empty. God’s promise is not. For two thousand years it has rung true, bringing hope to countless millions. May our kids and grandkids know that Jesus gave His life for them.
This year, enjoy a little chocolate, but remember the central focus of Easter is not some bunny, it is Somebody. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
