A story about the first Easter morning
(From the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 1-1)
The sun was coming up on the Sunday morning after Jesus died. A small group of women walked carefully to the place where his body had been buried. They didn't want to trip and fall because they were carrying precious spices to put on Jesus body. It was the custom of the Jewish people.
When they arrived at Jesus' burial tomb, they were surprised to see that it was no longer closed shut. The large stone that had been put at its opening of the cave had been rolled away. Cautiously, the women went into the tomb. Jesus' body was gone!
"What happened here?" Mary Magdalene asked Joanna.
"I don't have the slightest idea," Joanna replied. "Jesus' body was here. I saw the men put it in here on Friday evening."
James' mother was also named Mary. She began to cry. "Hasn't Jesus suffered enough? Now his body has been taken!"
Just then two men in bright white clothes appeared. The women were startled and terrified. They covered their heads with their arms and looked away. One of the men spoke to the women. His voice was tender and loving. "Why do you look at a place of death for someone who is alive?" he asked. "Jesus is not here. God has raised him from death! Do you remember how he told you and the rest of his friends that he would rise on the third day after his crucifixion? Today is the third day!"
The women looked at one another. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. "I do remember him saying that," whispered Joanna. She put her hand over her heart and started to smile. "Could it be that Jesus really is alive, just as he said?"
"We've got to tell the men!" Mary Magdalene said, excitedly. "They need to know - now!"
The women hurried away, tears of joy running down their cheeks. Jesus was alive! Jesus was alive! Nothing - not even death - was stronger than God. Their hearts were full with a new sense of hope. Life with God was forever and ever, and Jesus was living proof of that!
Alleluia! Alleluia!