The Faces of Easter

Since today is a happy day, show me how your face looks when you are happy. Oh yes, that is good. Our faces show the way we feel, don't they? Let me see what your face would look like if you were sad. How would your face look like if you were surprised? Afraid? Angry? You know, emotions are powerful things that God gave us to help us understand and respond to what happens in our lives.

I want you to help me tell the Bible story today. As I tell the story, you will help me by showing with your faces how the people in the story feel about what is happening. But I also want you to think about why they might have felt that way - what would you have been thinking if you were there? Will you help me do that? Great! Let's begin.

It was early in the morning on the first day of the week - that's Sunday - when some women went to visit the tomb where their friend Jesus had been buried. These weren't just any women - they were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. They had watched Jesus die on the cross just three days earlier, which was the most horrible thing they could imagine. He had been crucified on a cross and buried in a borrowed tomb that belonged to a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea. The women were going to put spices and oils on his body because that's what people did back then to honor someone who had died - kind of like how we bring flowers to a funeral today. The women were very sad as they went to the tomb. Why do you think they were sad?

When they arrived at the tomb, the women discovered that the huge stone that had covered the entrance had been rolled away. This wasn't just any rock - it was massive, probably weighing over a ton! It would have taken several strong men to move it. Can you imagine the look of surprise on their faces when they saw the open tomb? What do you think was going through their minds at that moment? When they looked inside the tomb, they had the biggest surprise of all. The tomb was empty! Not only was Jesus' body gone, but the burial cloths were lying there neatly folded.

Suddenly, surprise turned to fear as two men in bright shining clothes - these were actually angels - came and stood beside the women. Think about it: you're already confused and worried, and then supernatural beings appear! In their fright, they bowed down with their faces to the ground. The angels spoke to the women and said, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here; he has risen! Don't you remember what he told you when he was in Galilee? He said the Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again."

Then the women remembered what Jesus had told them - he had actually predicted his own death and resurrection! They were no longer afraid because they realized this wasn't a tragedy or a mystery to be solved. This was God's plan all along. Their fear turned to amazement and joy, and they ran back to tell Jesus' disciples what they had seen and that Jesus had risen, just as he had promised. But here's something interesting - at first, the disciples didn't believe the women! They thought it sounded like nonsense. Have you ever had trouble believing something that seemed too good to be true?

You and I have reason to be happy today, don't we? We are happy because we know that Jesus rose from the grave and that he lives forever. But let's think deeper about what this really means. When Jesus rose from the dead, he proved that he really was God's Son and that he had power over death itself. This wasn't just someone being brought back to life like Lazarus, who would die again later. This was Jesus conquering death forever. But we are also happy because we know that the Bible tells us in John 3:16 that "Whoever believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting life." This means that because Jesus defeated death, everyone who trusts in him can have eternal life too. Death doesn't get the final word in our story!

Think about this: What does it mean in your everyday life to know that Jesus is alive? How might knowing that Jesus conquered death change the way you face difficulties or fears? How can you share this good news with others who might not know about Jesus' resurrection?

Now that is something to be happy about, isn't it? Well, show me your happy face - the face of someone who knows that death has been defeated and that God's love wins in the end!

Dear Father, we are amazed and grateful today because Jesus is risen from the grave and lives forever. We are also filled with hope because we know that those who believe in him will also have everlasting life. Help us to live each day remembering that because Jesus is alive, we can face anything that comes our way. Help us to share this incredible good news with others. Amen.