Happy Easter, Happy Marriage
by Edward C. Lee
This Sunday is the most sacred of all days for those in the Christian faith – the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Even many that don’t regularly attend church will be making it to the house of the Lord this week. But beyond a packed church, patent leather shoes, new suits, colored eggs and chocolate bunnies – Easter Sunday means something to your marriage!
Jesus Christ died on a cross on a Friday. Then three days later, on Sunday morning, the tomb where He was placed, was found empty. He was then seen alive by multiple groups including 500 townspeople. After meeting with His disciples and giving them further insight about what was about to happen, He ascended back to heaven.
Uniformly, it is understood that the events leading up to and surrounding Easter Sunday secured salvation to all that believe in Jesus Christ. But what does it mean to your marriage?
Well, there is a passage in the Bible the specifies that the events of Easter mean something significant about your ability to live harmoniously in your marriage. In I Peter 1:20-24 it says that Christ’s life is an example for us to follow, and through that example our marriage can flourish:
1. At, and leading up to, the cross, He experienced suffering and was harshly, undeservedly mistreated. Yet, although He could have, He did not repay or get even with those that mistreated Him.
2. He trusted himself to His heavenly Father, whom judges righteously – even when He was receiving unrighteous treatment on earth.
3. On what we now call Good Friday, He bore our sins on the cross. When He then rose from the dead, on Easter morning, is was so that WE might die to the power of sin and live a righteous life.
Hmmm…I think it is safe to say that in marriage we come across days where we have been mistreated, undeservedly. It is also safe to say (I can speak for myself on this one) that at the points that we feel we are being mistreated unfairly there are a few thoughts that come to mind – but few of my thoughts are about what Jesus would do. LOL. Personally, I start thinking about getting even and getting things straight.
However, the example that we have is that Jesus trusted the righteous judgement of heaven more than how he was being treated on earth. As a result, those that call themselves Christians can overcome the urge to deal with each other in a tit for tat, “I am going to get even” way of thinking. Instead, we can love and be loved by our spouse with the bigger perspective of knowing that our heavenly Father is a righteous judge even when we are unjustly treated by our husband or wife.
In fact, after the example of Jesus is outlined in I Peter 2:21-24 it says “Likewise” or “In the same way,” wives should respect their husbands and win their hearts through their character. Then it says “Likewise” or “In the same way,” husbands should live with their wives in an understanding way, so that their own prayers with God are not hindered. Pretty powerful stuff.
This Easter Sunday as you make your way to church and perhaps to a big dinner later in the day, keep in mind that the events of Easter have provided your marriage with strength to rise above your hurts on earth and receive power from heaven. Perhaps the best way to end this post is with the words the end this passage in the Bible.
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. I Peter 3:8-9
Be Blessed and Happy Easter!
Edward is an Ordained Minister, host of the blog: elevateyourmarriage.com and Author of two first of their kind marriage books, Husbands, Wives, God: Introducing the Marriages of the Bible to Your Marriage and his new book, Husbands, Wives, God – Weekly Devotions: 52 Weeks of Relationship Enriching Devotions. Follow Edward on his blog or on Facebook at Husbands, Wives, God.
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