Easter surprises from God

In a way, Jesus' friends went on a hunt on the first Easter: They went looking for Jesus like you look for eggs. But they couldn't find Him! This week's Gospel (Luke 24:1-12) tells us about it.

Three days after Jesus died, His friends went to the cave where He was buried. But the big stone covering the cave's opening was rolled away, and Jesus' body was gone! Suddenly, two angels appeared and told them, "Why are you looking for Jesus here with the dead? He's alive!" The Apostles didn't believe it, but Peter ran back to the cave and saw that it was empty.

The Apostles had a surprise when they went to Jesus' grave. They thought they'd find His body, because He had died -- but they found an empty cave! They couldn't imagine who moved Jesus' body.

Finding the eggs isn't the only fun on an Easter egg hunt. Once you find them, you still don't know what's in them! They might be real eggs, or they might be plastic eggs with something else inside.

Jesus' friends got another surprise, too. They were sad, thinking someone stole Jesus' body; but then angels told them Jesus was alive! Finding out that their friend and teacher had come back to life was the first and best Easter surprise ever. It was even better than an Easter egg hunt!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me have fun with whatever surprises happen on Easter! Amen.