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Winston Williams Jr.
In the springtime of each year, homes, stores, and social media platforms become flooded with pastel colors, candy-filled baskets, and the cheerful image of the Easter Bunny.
Children partake in egg hunts, families gather for festive meals, and seasonal decorations adorn neighborhoods.
Yet, behind the cultural pageantry and commercialization lies a much deeper, ancient, and powerful story—a story not of rabbits and chocolate eggs, but of redemption, sacrifice, and resurrection.
Easter, at its core, is not about whimsy but about the greatest act of love and hope in human history.
To understand the redemptive power of Easter, one must first trace its origins beyond the trappings of modern culture. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a central event in Christianity that signifies victory over sin and death.
This miraculous event, according to the New Testament, occurred three days after Jesus was crucified by the Roman authorities under pressure from religious leaders in Jerusalem.
The term “Easter” itself has contested origins. Some scholars suggest it comes from “Eostre,” a pagan goddess of spring and fertility.
However, Christians from the earliest days commemorated the resurrection during the Jewish Passover, linking it deeply with God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
The connection is significant: just as the blood of a lamb spared the Israelites, so too does the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, offer salvation.
The Easter story is not a standalone tale; it is the culmination of a larger narrative that runs through the entirety of Scripture—a narrative of a broken world in need of restoration, and a God willing to redeem it at great personal cost.
At its essence, Easter is about redemption—the idea that humanity, estranged from God by sin, is restored through the sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The word “redemption” means to buy back, to pay a price for release. In the biblical context, it implies being rescued from bondage. In ancient times, slaves could be redeemed with a ransom; likewise, Jesus’ death is portrayed as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
The crucifixion was not merely an unjust execution—it was a deliberate act of self-sacrifice, the innocent dying for the guilty, love expressed through unimaginable suffering.
On Good Friday, Jesus is nailed to a Roman cross. Abandoned by His followers, mocked by His enemies, and forsaken in agony, He takes upon Himself the sins of the world.
This moment, horrific and dark, is paradoxically called “good” because of what it accomplished. In that hour, the debt of sin was paid in full.
The temple veil was torn, signifying direct access to God. The curse of death was broken. The cross, a symbol of shame, became a beacon of hope.
But redemption does not end at the cross—it finds its completion in the resurrection.
Easter Sunday commemorates the most astonishing claim of the Christian faith: that Jesus did not stay in the tomb, but rose again on the third day. The stone was rolled away, and the grave was found empty.
Angels declared to the women who came to mourn, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6).
The resurrection is more than a miracle—it is proof. It validates Jesus’ claims about Himself, affirms the power of God over death, and gives believers the promise of eternal life.
Paul, writing to the Corinthians, emphasizes this when he says, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14).
In rising from the dead, Jesus inaugurates a new creation. The sting of death is removed. Fear is replaced with hope. The resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a present and personal reality for those who believe.
It means that sin does not have the final word, death is not the end, and life—abundant, eternal life—is available to all.
Modern society has, in many ways, diluted the message of Easter. Commercial enterprises focus on eggs, bunnies, and brunch specials. While these traditions are not inherently wrong and can bring families together, they often overshadow the profound spiritual significance of the season.
The Easter Bunny and the egg hunts, though popular, have roots in fertility symbols and spring rituals. These traditions were assimilated into Easter celebrations over centuries, much like many other cultural holidays.
But for Christians, the central symbol of Easter is not an egg or a rabbit—it is the empty tomb. In a world wracked by suffering, division, and despair, the message of Easter is more relevant than ever.
It is a declaration that evil does not win. That suffering is not meaningless.
That even when all hope seems lost, resurrection is possible. Easter reminds us that God steps into our pain, our failure, our sin, and offers us a second chance—a new life.
If Easter is truly about redemption, then its impact must be more than just historical or theological—it must be personal and transformative. To believe in the resurrection is to believe that change is possible.
That the addict can be set free. That the broken can be healed. That relationships can be restored.
That purpose can be found in pain. Easter invites us not only to believe in a risen Savior but to live as resurrection people—those who walk in hope, grace, and love.
It calls us to extend forgiveness, just as we’ve been forgiven. To bring light where there is darkness.
To serve, sacrifice, and suffer for the sake of others. Redemption is not just something we receive; it is something we are called to embody and share.
This is the difference between religion and relationship. Religion is about rules and rituals; Easter is about relationship restored with God. It is about grace freely given, not earned.
It is about love that conquers sin, hope that outlasts death, and joy that cannot be shaken.
Every Easter, Christians around the world gather to proclaim the ancient truth: “Christ is risen!” And the response, echoing through cathedrals, small churches, and whispered prayers, is the same: “He is risen indeed!” This response is more than tradition—it is a statement of belief, a shout of triumph, a whisper of comfort in the darkest night. It is the rallying cry of the redeemed.
But Easter also calls for a response. It is not enough to simply hear the story or admire the sacrifice.
The empty tomb confronts each of us with a question: What will you do with this risen Christ? Will we relegate Him to folklore and festivals, or will we allow His resurrection to redefine our lives? Will we continue to chase comfort, or will we embrace the cost of discipleship?
Easter beckons us to move from admiration to allegiance, from spectators to participants in God’s redemptive mission.
Easter is not of rabbits but of redemption. It is not about baskets, but about a bloody cross and an empty tomb.
It is not about candy, but about the cure for the curse of sin.
It is not about springtime rituals, but about the dawning of a new creation.
While it is perfectly fine to enjoy Easter traditions with children and families, let us not lose sight of the deeper meaning.
Let the colorful eggs and blooming flowers remind us of new life, but let our hearts return again and again to the true source of that life—Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.
In a broken world, redemption is not a fairy tale. It is a fact. A man really did rise from the dead. And because of that, everything has changed.
So this Easter, as you bite into chocolate or watch children laugh during a hunt, take a moment to reflect: this celebration is not merely seasonal joy, but eternal victory.
It is a love story written in blood and fulfilled in an empty grave. It is the heartbeat of the Christian faith. It is, simply and profoundly, redemption.
Winston Vincent D. Williams Jr. DIP. MSc.
St. John’s Antigua
Tel: (268)464 8037
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Remembering things that you shouldn’t is not healthy.
I hope you are not remembering the houses on the little hill.
After all it wouldn’t be a bad idea if you remember so you go loco quicker.
I wish you believed everything you wrote. Today should be remembrance day for all you TRAITORS from the UPP who BETRAYED your COLLEAGUES, CONSTITUENTS and COUNTRY and for those from the ALP, who accepted TRAITORS in their camp; especially the TEN MILLION U.S DOLLAR MAN, to marginalize the loyal stooges who have been very diligent in their efforts to support them in their corruption that Antigua is now known for. Judas’s family tradition is truly being maintained.
We know all these things and yet we live the way we do
Everyone always want to write crap during certain holidays to feel important. Shut up and let people do what they do and celebrate their own way.
All these young men harping the neocolinial agenda that was harvested in their brain, the British leave but we kept them in our head.