In all the rush from one place to another, the joyful colors of spring and Easter may be seen everywhere. Sometimes in this avalanche of toys and candy and color, it is easy to forget the true meaning of Easter. It is my attempt, with the aid of other Christians celebrating the Resurrection of the Savior, to direct our minds and hearts to the Lord. Many of the traditions of the season pre-dated the Christian celebration of the Savior's Resurrection on that Spring morning hundreds of years ago. But maybe those symbols, just as our hearts, can be "converted" to strengthen us. Below there are symbols and their Christianized meanings, as well as scriptures for each one. I have thought that these would make excellent stuffers for plastic Easter eggs, with the scriptures used for discussion. Then, when we are greeted by these symbols at the stores and in the streets, we can smile as we think of Him who has redeemed us all.
Symbol | Scripture Passage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Angels | Matthew 28:5-6 | Proclaiming that He is risen |
 Blue | John 14:2-3 | Heaven, where we may dwell with the Savior |
 Bunny | John 10:10 | New and Abundant life; We need to share Gospel and multiply truth and be peaceful like our Savior |
 Butterfly | 1 Corinthians 15-3-4 | Our life, tomb and Resurrection brought to pass through the Savior's Atonement |
 Candle | John 8:12 | Jesus is the light of the world |
 Chicks | Matthew 23:37 | New life (leaving tomb); We are protected by the Savior as chicks are protected by their mother hen |
 Cross | John 19:17-19 | Death of Savior, the empty cross reflects that He is no longer there |
 Daffodil | Matthew 24:31 | New life, proclaiming good news |
 Easter basket | Mark 13:27 | Gathering of God's children into His fold |
 Easter clothes | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | New clothes = new life |
 Easter egg hunt | Jeremiah 16:16 | Responsibility of the believers to be hunters and fishers of men |
 Easter eggs | Matthew 27:59-60 | Tomb, awaiting new life |
 Easter Lily | 1 John 3:3 | Purity of Savior |
 Folded burial napkin | John 20:5-7 | He is not here! |
 Green | 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:10 | Hope in the Resurrection and Eternal Life |
 Hot Cross Buns | John 6:51 | Jesus is bread of life, and the cross represents is His death |
 Lamb | John 1:29 | Lamb of God, the everlasting sacrifice for our sins |
 Orange | Romans 5:11 | Joy we receive through the Savior's Atonement |
 Palm branches | John 12:12-13 | Triumphal entry into Jerusalem |
 Pink | John 3:16 | God's love to sacrifice His Son so that we can return to Him |
 Pretzel | 1 Corinthians 5:7 | Unleavened bread, arms folded in prayer |
 Purple | Mark 15:17 | Royalty, the King of Kings |
 Red | Matthew 26:28 | Blood of the Savior shed to redeem us |
 Resurrection | John 20:11-16 | He lives! We will live again |
 Rooster | Matthew 26:35 | Reminder to not deny Savior as Peter did |
 Sweet spices | Mark 16:1; John 19:40 | Sweet spices were used in preparation for the Savior's burial |
 Tomb | Luke 24:2-3 | He is risen! |
 Tulips | Romans 6:5; John 11:25 | New life, springing out of dead ground |
 White | Isaiah 1:18 | Purity |
 Yellow | Matthew 4:16 | Jesus is the light that leads us through darkness |
