Easter Sunday is NOT about the Easter Bunny—It’s Better Than Chocolate!
Article:
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!” – Matthew 28:6 (NIV)
Let’s get one thing straight: Easter Sunday is NOT about the Easter Bunny.
Yeah, I said it.
It’s not about chocolate eggs, colorful baskets, or marshmallow peeps (although, let’s be honest, those are a little suspicious). It’s not even about dressing up in pastels or taking that perfect spring selfie in front of the church flowers. Easter is about a rolled-away stone, an empty tomb, and a risen Savior.
Jesus Christ—beaten, crucified, buried—walked out of the grave on the third day.
And that, my friend, is way better than any amount of sugar.
The Real Story of Easter (Spoiler: It’s Life-Changing)
Let’s rewind to what actually went down.
Jesus, the Son of God, willingly gave His life on the cross for us. Not because we deserved it, but because His love is deeper than anything we can imagine. He took our sin, our shame, our guilt—and nailed it to that cross. It was messy, brutal, and completely unfair to Him. But He did it out of love.
Then came Sunday.
Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose.
No magic trick. No myth. No legend. Just the raw power of God.
That resurrection wasn’t just a moment in history—it was the moment that changed history. His rising means we don’t have to stay buried in our past, our sin, or our shame. We can rise, too. Through Jesus, we are offered new life, eternal life, real life.
And honestly, that kind of joy? You can’t wrap it in foil or hide it in your backyard.
Enter... the Bunny?
Now, you may be wondering, “So where did the Easter Bunny come from?”
Well, it didn’t hop out of the Bible, that’s for sure.
Historians trace the Easter Bunny back to pre-Christian, pagan festivals. Rabbits—known for their... let’s say, enthusiastic reproduction rates—symbolized new life and fertility. When Christianity spread, some traditions blended, and boom—suddenly, a bunny with a basket full of eggs started showing up in springtime celebrations.
Harmless? Maybe. But also distracting.
Over the years, the real meaning of Easter—the resurrection of Jesus Christ—got buried under layers of chocolate and commercialism. For many families today, Easter is less about Jesus conquering death and more about Target aisles full of candy.
Let’s be real—when the highlight of Easter is finding the “golden egg” with five bucks inside, we’ve officially lost the plot.
What the Bunny Steals
It’s not that chocolate is evil. (We’re not monsters.) And it’s not that Easter egg hunts are demonic. But when Jesus becomes the side dish and the bunny is the main course, we’ve allowed culture to hijack the most important day in our faith.
The danger? We raise generations who know how to dye eggs but don’t know that their sins can be washed clean. Kids can tell you what the Easter Bunny brought but have no idea what Jesus bought for them—with His blood.
We trade the empty tomb for an empty tradition.
And that’s heartbreaking.
Taking Easter Back (Yes, We Can!)
Here’s the good news—we can flip the script. We can bring the power of Easter back into focus.
You don’t have to cancel your egg hunt. Just make sure your family knows why you’re celebrating in the first place.
Start the day with Scripture. Read Matthew 28 together. Let the resurrection set the tone.
Talk about Jesus. Make Him the hero of the story. Because He is.
Make it personal. Ask, “What does Jesus rising from the dead mean for me today?”
Create new traditions. Write resurrection letters to Jesus, worship together, bake a “Resurrection Cake” and talk about the sweetness of salvation!
Let’s raise kids who get more excited about eternal life than a chocolate bunny. Let’s be families who shout “He is risen!” louder than we shout, “Who found the last egg?”
Let’s live Easter bold, joyful, and focused on the miracle that makes all things new.
Three Powerful Bible Verses (and Why They Matter)
Matthew 28:6 (NIV) – “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!”
Spoken by the angel at Jesus’ empty tomb, this verse is the mic drop of the New Testament. Jesus predicted His resurrection and then proved He was exactly who He said He was—Savior, Son of God, and King.
Romans 6:4 (NLT) – “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead... now we also may live new lives.”
Paul wrote this to early Christians in Rome, explaining how Jesus’ resurrection isn’t just symbolic—it’s the very power that gives us new life today.
1 Corinthians 15:17 (AMP) – “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and powerless... you are still in your sins.”
Harsh? Maybe. But it highlights just how essential the resurrection is to our faith. No resurrection = no salvation.
Your Move
This Easter, make the decision to celebrate the real hero of the day—Jesus.
It’s not about canceling candy or shaming people with bunny ears. It’s about keeping Jesus at the center and letting His resurrection be the loudest message we proclaim.
He is alive. And because He lives, you can truly live too.
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Resurrection Truth Fill-in-the-Blank Challenge ✨
Can you complete these 7 resurrection-themed fill-in-the-blank verses and phrases from the article? Test your knowledge—and more importantly, let these truths sink deep.
Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct word(s) from memory or by re-reading the article above.
“He is not here; He has ________, just as He said!” – Matthew 28:6 (NIV)
Easter is about a _______-away stone, an empty tomb, and a _______ Savior.
Jesus didn’t stay ______. He ______.
Through Jesus, we are offered new ______, eternal ______, real ______.
We trade the empty ______ for an empty _______.
Let’s be families who shout “He is ______!” louder than we shout, “Who found the last egg?”
If Christ has not been ______, your faith is _______ and powerless.
Bonus Question:
What does Jesus rising from the dead mean for you today?
Jesus, You are the Risen King, and because You live, I have hope, purpose, and the promise of new life. Thank You for defeating death and making a way for me to walk in freedom, forgiveness, and love. Help me never settle for empty traditions when You’ve offered me a full, everlasting relationship with You. Stir my heart to seek You daily, to know You more deeply, and to live boldly in the power of Your resurrection.
Amen.
If you want to make a change in your life and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior—or if you’ve drifted away and want to recommit your life to Him—read this prayer out loud and make it your own.
Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose from the grave to give me new life. I confess that I’ve gone my own way, but today I turn from sin and choose to follow You. I ask You to forgive me, cleanse me, and live in my heart as my Lord and Savior. From this moment on, I commit my life to You—thank You for loving me, saving me, and giving me the hope of eternal life.
If you sincerely prayed that prayer, know that all of heaven is rejoicing—and so am I! Please email me at excel2faith@gmail.com so I can celebrate with you and send you encouraging resources to help you grow in your new or renewed walk with Christ. You're not alone—this is just the beginning of something beautiful. Welcome home!