CREDIT: WallpaperFlare.com

Dear Easter People,

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Life is filled with surprises. One of the best surprises happens when someone you don’t expect to show up, shows up! I remember a time while we were at the Seminary in St. Louis. My daughter told me she we coming to town with friends for a mission trip. I said, “Keep it a secret! We’ll surprise your mom.” And we did surprise her. You should’ve seen the look on her face when our daughter walked out of the crowd gathered at the door to greet her!

One morning about 2000 years ago on a hillside graveyard outside Jerusalem a man named Peter, his friend, and a woman named Mary Magdalene got the surprise of their lives. Their leader Jesus was crucified and buried three days earlier. Mary returned to finish the burial procedures. When she got to the tomb – Surprise! No body! Peter and his friend heard of Mary’s surprise and came to investigate. In the tomb, the burial garments were neatly arranged, but there was, indeed, no body! 

The men returned home. Mary stayed behind weeping. She saw a man, maybe the gardener. Perhaps he knows what happened. She said, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” (John 20:15)  “The Gardner” called her name, “Mary.” Surprise! And what a surprise indeed! Mary instantly recognized Him! It was Jesus! He’s alive! Jesus told her to tell the others, so she ran off with her surprising news, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)

Many are surprised to hear what Mary’s surprise means for them. Rising from the dead, Jesus defeated the power sin and death. It’s surprising indeed. But it’s true. He is risen! And because He is risen, we and all who believe are forgiven, released from sin and death’s power to hold us down. Let’s join Mary to share this surprising news for us and all mankind with all we meet.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Pastor Jim