Easter Baskets

Luke 24:1-6a – On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women 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!" (NIV)

This year, I ordered four small Easter baskets for my grandchildren. These were no ordinary baskets. They were filled with handmade candies from the kitchen of my Amish neighbours. The young woman who makes them belongs to a family whose father is the bishop of the local Amish community.

When I arrive to buy eggs, produce, baked goods, or other homemade delicacies, the mother of the family and I often chat. Always, the conversation turns to our common faith in our risen Lord Jesus. Although we differ in our interpretation of how that faith ought to be lived, we agree on one thing: Jesus is central. His resurrection is what makes the difference for us. We know this because His light shines into our lives like a beam of sunlight breaking through on a cloudy day. So we rejoice together in knowing that the tomb is empty. Together we can proclaim, "He is risen". Yes, Jesus is risen, indeed!

John 1:4-5 – In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (NIV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how can we ever offer praise sufficient for the grace You offer through Jesus Christ? Thank You for coming to us through Jesus to grant us Your grace. Thank You for the resurrection that is Your promise to us that our debt is cancelled through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Help us to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that all we need to do is call upon that name to be set free, for we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.