In the movie, The Last Emperor, the elderly British tutor says to the young Chinese emperor, “Your majesty, you must say what you mean and mean what you say.” This is a fine piece of advice.

Now, what does “Easter” mean? Have you ever wondered what comes to the minds of those who are unfamiliar with Christianity when they hear that Easter is coming, or how “secular” people explain Easter?

My first exposure to Easter was in a fourth grade public school in San Francisco. My non-Christian family came to the United States two months before Easter. I spoke about 10 words of English. Imagine the confusion and consternation when my classmates began drawing Easter bunnies and colorful eggs, saying it was for Easter. I kept asking, “What’s Easter?” “Why rabbits?” “Why eggs?” “Do rabbits in America lay eggs?”

My classmate, Susie, a Buddhist sansei (third generation Japanese-American) knew about five words of Japanese. She did her best to enlighten me. “Easter is a holiday to celebrate spring.” “Easter bunnies come with decorated eggs.” “No, rabbits don’t lay eggs, but these Easter bunnies bring eggs.” “I don’t know why they bring eggs?.”

Let me ask the readers a question. If someone who had never been exposed much to Christianity asked you what Easter is, what would your response be? Would you begin by describing Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs or would you tell of the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ and all that that means?

A classmate of mine in high school began with the latter and explained to me that Jesus is alive today. There was much confusion in my darkened mind at such a claim, but a shaft of light had entered. Slowly and patiently my classmate fed the light with love, prayer and the World of God until I opened my heart to the risen Savior who is alive and is coming again.

In the very non-Christian country of Japan, Easter is designated on the calendar as the “Celebration of [the] Resurrection.” Now that, to me, is saying what you mean and meaning what you say. JESUS IS ALIVE AND IS COMING BACK.