Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

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How will you celebrate Easter? How we celebrate can either make the most of this glorious day or squander all it means for us.

No, it’s not a matter of the right external celebration. What is critical this Easter Day—in fact, every day—is that our hearts celebrate Christ as our Passover Lamb, as Paul urges us.

That’s why Paul urgently cries out, “Let us keep the Festival,” and then proceeds to talk about leavened and unleavened bread. But what does that mean?

To understand Paul’s words, remember not only that Jesus’ death and resurrection happened during Passover. Remember also that Passover was connected to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days God commanded Israelites to rid their homes of all yeast. Yeast, with its ability for a tiny amount to permeate a whole batch of dough, is a biblical picture for how sin works in our hearts. Even a small sin allowed to grow in our hearts can wreak eternal havoc as it leads our hearts away from God.

So, “Let us keep the festival!” We remember that Christ has died and risen to free us from sin. But that freedom isn’t only from guilt for sins previously committed. Easter also proclaims freedom from sin’s power over us. So each day we “keep the Festival” as we “get rid of the old yeast.” We watch for the yeast of “malice and wickedness” that every day tries to grow anew in our hearts.

Each day we keep the feast as we seek not only the comfort of the Passover Lamb’s forgiveness but also its power to live with a sincere heart that finds strength in his saving truth. Each day we “keep the Festival” as we delight that in his death and resurrection Jesus has declared us to be a new, unleavened batch of dough and has given us the power to live who we are in him!

So how do we “keep the Festival”? Today, and every day, live as his new batch of unleavened bread. Today, and every day, clear out every remnant of that old yeast of malice and wickedness that clings to our hearts. Today, and every day, throw that old yeast of “malice and wickedness” at the foot of his cross. Today, and every day, find at the empty tomb of your Passover Lamb the power that is yours to live in “sincerity and truth.”

That’s why, and that’s also how, we sing today and every day, “At the Lamb’s high feast.” That’s why, and that’s also how, we “Praise our victorious King.” Such is our joy as this Easter day, and every day, we “keep the Festival.”

Easter triumph, Easter joy! This alone can sin destroy; From sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free, Newborn souls in you to be. Alleluia!

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Rev. Dr. Richard Gurgel serves Martin Luther College as president.