I was thinking about that the other day – how horrific the crucifixion of Christ must have been for the disciples and the first believers. This faithful band walked with the son of God and watched as he healed lives and made the blind to see and the lame to walk. They watched as he cast out demons and performed miracle after miracle. The sat at his feet and listened and learned as he told parables about how to rejoice and grow and live as a Christian. They loved him. They revered him. They knew without a doubt he was the son of God – the same God who had strewn the stars across the Heavens and created the fishes of the sea and birds of the air and all life on earth.
And here they were, this motley band of new Christians, watching in horror as the son of God was stoned and spat upon and beaten until the ground was red with holy blood. They wept and internally rebelled as he was crucified but were ultimately so filled with terror that they denied him. And when it was finished they carried away his mutilated body, gently washed him, and sorrowfully placed him in a tomb. It was finished. Ended before it started.
And then…
On the third day he rose again! And they beheld his glory and rejoiced.
So many times in our lives we view things with earthly eyes. Sometimes our life events are big unexpected things: a job is lost, a house burns, a child is born with disabilities. Sometimes they aren’t life-changing but are simply annoying: a missed plane, a flat tire, a promise not kept. Other times they keep us awake at night: financial difficulties, teenagers gone amuck, a cancer diagnosis.
We see the obvious and weep and sorrowfully place our woes and tragedies in a tomb.It isn’t until long afterwards, maybe years, that we realize that we also rose again and that life was, indeed, glorious despite it all and that there was cause to rejoice. The disabled child is the light of our lives, the lost job made way for a new career, the house burning while we were away meant we were safe, a flat tire meant not being involved in an accident ahead, and having cancer meant walking with God and treasuring life as never before.
No matter what happens in life, we are blessed and we must live with faith and without fear and worry. God really does know what he’s doing.
“I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus said. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
So why do Jesus’ followers gather in churches on Easter morning? To show off their Easter finery? Of course not. It is to celebrate the victory of life over death, and to declare that Jesus Christ is Lord indeed!
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God sometimes has other plans
Upon reading the above, I am reminded of a pivotal day in my life that goes to show that sometimes even one of life's frustrations can turn out to be a true blessing.
It was a beautiful day in July, 1964, and life was wonderful. I had just turned 18, had just graduated from high school, and was back home after a job as a waitress in Glacier Park. I had a date with a guy from the park whose name I can't even remember now. He stood me up. Didn't show. Didn't call.
This had never happened before and I was not very happy. I drove to Gordy's Drive-In, the local teen hangout in Whitefish, Montana, to drown my sorrows with a GVA burger and a pineapple milkshake.
Before long, a red motorcycle pulled up next to me and although I'd never talked to him, I recognized the guy. He was from nearby Columbia Falls -- very tall and handsome and chased by half the females in Flathead Valley. As I watched he got off his bike, took a comb from his back pocket, and hunkered down to look in his motorcycle mirror and comb his hair. To this day I think it was the sexiest thing I've ever seen.
He came over and introduced himself and soon he was in my car and we were driving. We drove and talked for miles. For hours. We couldn't talk fast enough to get everything in. It was like we had been in a desert and were dying of thirst but had suddenly encountered this fountain that was reviving and refreshing us and bringing us back to life.
Do I believe in love at first sight? Yup. He told me that night that he loved me and he was going to marry me. A year later I said "I do" to Troy Elic Thacker. On July 2 we will celebrate our 44th year of marriage.
And as to the guy who stood me up? I am so very grateful! God clearly had other plans in mind.
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Resurrection Cookies
1 c whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. (this is important - don't wait until you are halfway done with the recipe!)
Place pecans in a zipper bag and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3 Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3 Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9. HE HAS RISEN!
