Easter is the hardest holiday. It is because it demands faith. There is no other way to approach the crucifixion of Jesus and its aftermath in a celebratory mood, unless you accept the whole package: God, sacrifice, death, resurrection, and redemption.
Of Christianity’s two most focal holidays, Christmas is the more celebrated by general society. It is because it offers easier ways to approach it. So, more people are comfortable doing so to some extent.
Of course, Christmas requests our faith. Accepting that Jesus is God’s son born into the world brings this holiday to its fullest meaning, its true meaning. But its centrality of birth is also a broad route that allows many to approach.
Birth amid the death of winter is inherently appealing. And who cannot celebrate new life, regardless of when it comes? Even if you refuse to accept Jesus as the son of God, there is still a birth at Christmas’s core. And in a manger, no less — something particularly appealing to today’s egalitarian instincts. Additionally, there are the gifts; superficially, who cannot enjoy this aspect? Finally, there are the elements of secularization: Santa Claus, reindeer — ample distractions from any religious center.
Christmas has become easy; for many, easier to celebrate in some form than to ignore.
Not so Easter. Its focal point is the suffering and martyrdom of Jesus. Society tries to secularize it as best it can — eggs, bunnies, chicks, all elements of new birth and the spring season in which it occurs. But those elements are really the opposite of what is outwardly taking place: suffering, public execution, shame, ridicule. Death.
If Jesus is no more than a wise man, his is no more than a reprisal of the death of Socrates. There is certainly something to be mourned here, but there is equally and assuredly nothing to be celebrated. Society, then and now, would have been better off by holding on to its wise man longer.
For those who struggle with making the ascent to Easter’s full demands, they are not alone. The disciples of Jesus could not — would not — grasp the manifest aspects of Easter. And they refused to accept the pronouncements of Jesus about it — to the point that Jesus rebuked Peter harshly, “Get behind me, Satan! (Mark 8:33) When it finally occurred, just as Jesus had foretold, only John would approach — and then out of familial duty, not discipleship. Nor did John go to celebrate; he went to comfort Mary, the mother of Jesus and his relative.
The rest of the disciples stood apart from it. Literally. They undoubtedly mourned. But they did so at a distance, a distance that reflected their refusal to embrace his death. A distance they maintained until Jesus forcibly removed it by appearing to them — despite the bolted door — in the upper room.
The disciples cannot be blamed. On its worldly surface there is nothing to celebrate here. There is everything to avoid. As they did, as they urged Jesus to do. As much of society does today.
In its surface, worldly manifestation, there is nothing to celebrate in Easter. This is why so many try to ignore these elements altogether. However, this is difficult to do, considering their centrality in all four of the Gospels. So, much of society searches for other elements, but there are no shepherds, no wise men, no gifts, no young mother and an infant — there is only a grieving mother and her dead son. And a cross.
Easter’s cross is in fact a crossroads. You must turn toward it, or you must turn away from it. There are no other choices.
If we are to face Easter, in all its horrible realities, and celebrate it, this can only be done through faith. We must follow the path of the disciples themselves. Theirs was confirmed by the empty tomb and then by the resurrected Jesus — even to the point of Jesus commanding Thomas: “Take your finger and examine my hands. Put your hand into my side. Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!” (John 20:27)
The first Easter demanded faith no less than have all the subsequent ones. Faith triumphed over all the doubts that the disciples had until those moments. Only then could they understand. Only then could they accept. Only then could they celebrate.
Easter’s demand of faith has not changed. It has not because it cannot. Only faith allows us to accept Easter for what it means, what it truly is — not the outward manifestations of this world, but for what will occur in the next because of it.
Without this faith, Good Friday cannot be good. Crucifixion cannot be victory. The tomb cannot be empty. Jesus cannot be risen. Death in this world cannot mean life in the next. Without faith we are empty, just as is Easter. There is no celebration because there can be none.
Like no other holiday, Easter demands faith. Others offer off-ramps. Easter does not. Nor does Easter shrink from its demands. Without faith there is no holiday. And for this reason, Easter is the most important holiday, the holiest day, we Christians truly have.
J.T. Young is the author of the recent book, Unprecedented Assault: How Big Government Unleashed America’s Socialist Left from RealClear Publishing and has over three decades’ experience working in Congress, the Department of Treasury, the Office of Management, and Budget, and representing a Fortune 20 company.
