He Is Risen

This morning, I want to read you a story. As I read, I want you to listen carefully for some special words. Here are three words I want you to listen for: candy, eggs and bunny rabbits.

[Read Luke 24:1-6]

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, [Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James] took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee."

Did you hear any of those words in our story? You didn’t? I don’t understand. I just read you the Easter story. No candy? No eggs? No bunnies? Why not? [Allow for answers.]

The fact is Easter is not about candy. It’s not about colored eggs or bunny rabbits. It’s not even about new clothes, although the Bible tells us that the angels who appeared to Mary and the others were wearing “bright shining clothes.”

These things have become part of our celebration of Easter, and there is nothing wrong with them being a part of our celebration as long as we know what Easter is really all about. Can someone tell me what Easter is all about? That’s right. Easter is really about Jesus, and the wonderful good news that He is alive!

When Mary and her friends finally realized that Jesus was alive, do you know what they did? They hurried and told their other friends! And that’s what I would like for you to do too. As soon as you get back home from church today, with every chance you get, I would like for you to start telling people you see these 3 simple words, “Jesus is alive! Jesus is alive!”

Dear Lord, today we celebrate the empty grave. We thank You that Jesus is not in the grave. He is risen and alive, and because of that, we can have new life in Him. Amen.