Suspense Leads To Easter

After Jesus died, Mary Magdalene, James' mother Mary, and Salome went to where He was buried.
"Who will move the stone that covers the cave?"
they asked - but it was already moved! A man in a white robe sat by the open cave. He said,
"Don't be amazed! Jesus isn't here; He has been
raised from the dead. Go tell His followers."

The day before a gift-giving holiday is always full of suspense. Many kids get some candy for Easter; but, like Christmas, you can never be totally sure there will be something for you on Easter morning. You get so excited when you see that chocolate bunny!

This week's Gospel (Mark 16:1-7) is about suspense, too. Jesus had promised His followers that He would come back to life after three days - but when they saw Him hanging on the Cross, dying and His body being put in a tomb, that must have been hard to believe.

Anything you get for Easter is good, because it's not a big gift-giving holiday. Candy is the usual thing, but some kids also get toys or other treats. It's even more exciting when there's something unexpected in your Easter basket!

Like the contents of your Easter basket, Jesus' resurrection was unexpected in a lot of ways:

• He had said He would come back, but He waited three whole days while His followers wondered what was going on;

• He didn't come to life in front of them, but vanished from His tomb and left a message that He'd meet them in Galilee;

• He left an angel to tell the disciples the good news, to make sure they believed it. 

Some Easter baskets contain a chocolate bunny or a bag of jelly beans. When Jesus gave out Easter treats, though, He made sure there was a whole basket of surprises - starting with Him being alive again!

(04/09/09)