Eggs, dye, and baskets

So let me ask you a question. Do you like things that are empty? Don’t you just love it when you are running a little late, not too late, then you glance down at the gas gauge and yes…it’s basically empty? Or how about this one? You been working hard and you reach over and grab your coffee, anticipating that nice sip of joe, only to realize it’s empty. Maybe you go to reach into the pantry to grab your favorite snack, only to see that someone ate it all, and left the empty box in the pantry.

So when you think about Easter, what comes to mind? Little white fuzzy bunnies, Cadbury eggs, pastel colors, and did I mention candy? Is Easter all about getting together with the family and hunting for some eggs? Not that there is anything wrong with any of this, but is this the 1^st things that comes to mind when we think about Easter? Has Easter been watered down to this? Doesn’t this version of Easter seem a bit….empty?

When it comes to Easter, empty is well….a good thing. Let’s think about the empty tomb. The empty tomb matters because it is proof. Proof that Jesus is who He says He is. One of my pet peeves is when someone brags and makes boast about something, and then can’t back it up. We don’t have to worry about that when it comes to Jesus. He told his disciples that he will have to suffer many terrible things and be rejected and killed by the religious people, but in 3 days he will rise from the dead (Mark 8: 31). Jesus not only said these things, but He did them! Now that is backing up what you say!

The empty tomb is powerful. Power that is greater than sin and death. Jesus came to earth and died so that we may have eternal life with Him. He died to restore humanity. He died to show the ultimate unprejudiced love that God has for His creation. For something to live something else has to die. Ate any fruit today? Well that fruit was disconnected from its life source so that it may give you vitamins, minerals, nutrients….life. The empty tomb shows us that Jesus has power over death. He took death’s worse sting and kept moving forward! He gives us life!

The empty tomb is permanent. When people visit Jerusalem, may people visit a site that historians say is the burial place of Jesus. And when tourist look inside the tomb….it’s empty! Jesus wasn’t in the tomb three days after he died…He isn’t in the tomb today…and He never will be again! Jesus’ body wasn’t stolen or placed in the wrong tomb. This isn’t some magic trick, Jesus is alive!!

So when we celebrate Easter with family and friends, let us not forget what we are celebrating. Let’s remember that Jesus took on death face to face and dealt it a huge blow. Let’s remember that Jesus showed us what sacrificial love looks like, and commands us to display this same love to others.

O what a glorious day, what a glorious way….O happy day!!

Happy Easter friends!!