What's Inside?

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay…Matthew 28:5-6.

Several brightly colored Easter eggs dotted the lawn prior to our Easter Egg Hunt this year! 

I could hardly wait!  In just a short time, four little boys would be darting across the lawn, collecting the brightly colored eggs and placing them in their bags!

And that’s exactly what happened!  Carrying sports-themed Easter bags, including baseball, football and basketball bags…those sweet boys ran out the door when we announced it was time for the Easter Egg Hunt!

Squeals could be heard as these little darlings scurried across the lawn, collecting eggs as quickly as possible!

The two older boys, Hudson and Graham, quickly filled their baskets to overflowing, needing to dump their bags on the ground next to their father’s feet (knowing that their daddy’s would guard their treasures carefully), so they could run back to the lawn and collect more!

Beau, our two year old was just a little bit slower, but was filling his bag fairly quickly as well!

Emmett, on the other hand, stopped as he picked up each egg!  Emmett felt the need to open each egg, examining the contents to verify that there were indeed goodies inside!

He would crack open the brightly colored eggs, revealing a variety of candies, fruit snacks, money and matchbox cars!  He wouldn’t move on until he had examined each egg for its contents!

Though each egg was filled with goodies, I’m sure Emmett would have tossed any empty egg aside, realizing it had no value to him and quickly move on to examine the next brightly colored egg to see what treasures were stored inside.

Even as adults, we are a little like Emmett!  When we receive a gift, we are anxious to open it to see what amazing treasure is inside the beautifully wrapped package!  Often, we spend a few moments admiring the gift, not only appreciating the gift, but the one who gave the gift to us! 

It’s normal for us to anticipate…believe…that when we receive a gift bag or box, it will be filled with something wonderful…something we absolutely love!

However, one of the greatest gifts we will ever receive isn’t a beautifully wrapped package!  As a matter of fact, those who went to view it found that it was no longer even wrapped. 

Scripture tells us… The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay…Matthew 28:5-6.

When Mary Magdalen saw that the tomb was empty, she ran to Simon Peter and another disciple, stating…”They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”…John 20:2.

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb and as Simon Peter entered the tomb, he saw the strips of linen laying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head, but Jesus was not there…John 20:3-7.

The precious linens that had gently been wrapped around Jesus’ dead body were left lying in the empty tomb.  However, our Lord Jesus was no longer there!

Though the disciples didn’t immediately understand what had happened to their Lord, they quickly learned the truth.  The events that took place leading up to Jesus’ death and the next few days happened just as Jesus said they would happen. 

Jesus told his disciples that he would die and rise from the dead three days later. 

And as Jesus appeared to each of them, they quickly learned that Jesus had indeed risen from the grave and was alive!

The empty tomb…dark and dreary…held the greatest gift we can ever receive! 

Though Emmett may still stop and examine the contents of his brightly colored eggs on future Easters, I have no doubt that he will quickly learn that the greatest gift of all does not come in a beautifully wrapped package…or decorative eggs…but is the gift of our risen Lord…leaving behind an empty tomb.

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you for Easter fun…including hunting for eggs, opening Easter baskets and sharing a beautiful meal with family.  However, help each of us to remember the true meaning of Easter…and to take time to celebrate our risen Lord!