Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:5-14
Today, I titled the sermon “Easter Parade.” The Easter parade was once a cherished tradition in many cities across the United States and around the world. It is not something we see as often anymore. In many places, it has been replaced by Easter egg hunts and other activities that, while enjoyable, often reflect the growing commercialization of what was once a deeply spiritual celebration. Even when we are not fully aware of it, we can find ourselves drawn into that shift.
Yet the Easter parade itself carried meaning. It was more than a festive gathering; it was a visible expression of resurrection life. People would gather dressed in bright clothing, often in white, and walk through the streets in celebration. There were displays, music, and a sense of shared joy. At its heart, the parade symbolized the new life that comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was a way of proclaiming, not just with words but with presence and appearance, that something had changed.
Clothing played a significant role in this tradition. What people wore was intentional. Bright colors, fresh garments, and renewed appearances reflected the message of new life and hope. In many churches, Easter Sunday also became a special time for baptisms. Throughout the year, individuals would prepare through study and teaching, and then on Easter Sunday, they would publicly step into that new life through baptism. Even today, some churches continue this practice.
There is something about Easter that naturally draws our attention to how we present ourselves. New outfits, bright colors, and the idea of a fresh start all point to a deeper truth. Long before these became cultural customs, they were rooted in a spiritual reality. Easter is not only about celebrating an empty tomb; it is about living an empty-tomb life, a life marked by renewal and transformation.
The apostle Paul speaks directly to this in Colossians 3. He tells us that if we have been raised with Christ, then our lives should look different. This change is not merely external; it begins within and flows outward. Paul uses the imagery of changing clothes to describe this transformation. In essence, he is saying that we cannot walk out of the grave with Jesus and continue wearing what we were buried in.
He calls for a decisive break with the old life. In verse 5, he says to “put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature.” This is not a minor adjustment or a gradual shift. It is a clear and intentional turning away. Just as Jesus left the grave clothes behind in the tomb, we are called to leave behind the patterns, habits, and attitudes that belong to our former way of life.
When the disciples and others came to the tomb on that first Easter morning, they did not find the body of Jesus. What they found were the burial cloths, left behind. That image speaks powerfully to us. The resurrection involves both leaving something behind and stepping into something new. Jesus rose with a transformed body, no longer bound by the grave clothes. His appearance reflected that transformation.
This same imagery is echoed in the story of Lazarus. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus came out of the tomb still wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus then instructed those around him to remove those bindings and let him go. Lazarus was alive, but he still needed to be released from what belonged to death. That moment illustrates what Easter means for us. We are given new life, but we must also let go of what binds us to the old.
The Bible tells us that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come. Yet Paul reminds us that it is possible to be alive in Christ while still clinging to old patterns. There is a tendency in all of us to return to what is familiar. Old habits, attitudes, and ways of thinking can draw us back, even when we know we have been called to something greater.
Paul addresses this directly. He reminds the Colossians that they once walked in those old ways, but that was their past, not their present. The resurrection life is not about returning to what we have left behind. It is about stepping fully into what God has made us to be. Once we leave those old ways, they no longer have dominion over us. We are no longer controlled by them, but by the power of the risen Christ.
It is like someone who receives a brand new outfit but keeps going back to the closet to pull out old, worn clothing. That is not the intention. Easter reminds us that we are not who we used to be, and therefore we should not continue to wear what belongs to that former life.
Paul then shifts from what we are to remove to what we are to put on. He says to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These are the garments of the resurrection life. Christianity is not only about removing what is wrong; it is about embracing what reflects the character of Christ. It is not merely subtraction; it is transformation.
We are called not just to stop doing wrong, but to begin living rightly. In a world that often thrives on harshness and impatience, we are called to put on kindness. In a culture where many seek to elevate themselves, we are called to embrace humility. These qualities do not come naturally in every situation, but they are the marks of a life shaped by Christ.
Humility, in particular, is seen clearly in the life of Jesus. Though He came from heaven, He humbled Himself to live among us. He even washed the feet of His disciples, demonstrating that true leadership is found in serving others. This is the kind of life we are called to reflect.
The foundation of this entire message is found in the opening words of the passage: “Since you have been raised with Christ.” Paul is not speaking about something that might happen in the future. He is declaring something that has already taken place. Through Christ, we have been raised into new life.
Baptism serves as a powerful reminder of this truth. Whether through immersion or sprinkling, it symbolizes leaving the old life behind and emerging into something new. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too are called to live a new life. When someone comes out of the water, they do not return to remain there. They step forward, leaving the past behind.
There is a simple illustration that captures this idea. When a goat falls into mud, it quickly gets up, shakes itself off, and moves on. But when a pig falls into mud, it remains there, seemingly content. As followers of Christ, we are not called to remain in what is unclean. We may stumble at times, but we are called to rise, to shake off what does not belong, and to continue forward in the power of the resurrection.
Imagine what the world would look like if people truly lived this way, clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These are the garments that reflect the life of Christ. They are the visible expression of an inward transformation.
On that first Easter morning, the tomb was empty, but something was left behind. The grave clothes remained. Jesus no longer needed them. In the same way, we are called to leave behind what belongs to death. We cannot live the resurrection life while still clinging to the garments of the grave.
Easter calls us to step forward, to embrace the new life we have been given, and to wear the character of Christ in our daily lives. It is an invitation to live differently, to reflect His grace, and to allow that transformation to be seen by the world.
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