When my kids were little, I used to sneak outside early Easter morning to hide the Easter Eggs and candy all around the house and yard while Kristen prepared breakfast. Early April weather in Michigan always seems to be cold and dewy. I think the neighbors thought I was crazy – running around the yard in my robe and boots hiding candy. But it was worth it to see the kids smiling faces as they raced around the yard locating the prized possessions. The younger they were, the more help we’d give them with hints such as, “Cold, very cold or warm, warmer, hot, very hot,” etc.… As they grew older, we gave them less and less help. As they continued to grow, we began to have more mature conversations about the true meaning of Easter – and it didn’t include Easter Bunnies and candy.
Communicating with our children face to face is vital in today’s day and age – text messages, emails, Facebook, Snapchats and Instagram’s can only convey so much. Selfies and goofy pics at the beach only go so far. We need to be able to communicate with our children and tell them and about Jesus Christ and the ultimate sacrifice he made for us – how he was beaten, broken and crucified for our sins – on Good Friday. We need to be able to communicate to them that Jesus defeated death; that he rose from the dead on the third day – on Easter. This is the true meaning and biggest day of the year for Christians around the world. This is a day of celebration for all! But let’s not just talk about it on Easter – let’s celebrate it every day of the year.
Luke 24:1-7 – But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
Luke 24:46-48 And Jesus said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.
“Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to take our place on the cross. Thank you for the hope we have in you. We have the ‘Good News’ – help us share it with our family, our friends, and the world. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen.”