Simple Items - Profound Truth

I'm finishing up a week of preparing for Jr. Church in which the kids will be making "resurrection eggs"; plastic eggs each holding a different item that is part of the story of the last week of Christ.

It's been an interesting and creative exercise, finding things that are symbolic, affordable, and, most importantly, able to fit in a plastic egg!

What I've discovered is that while these items will tell one story to the little ones there's a powerful message in them for us: the adults, who have known the story for decades and find ourselves today serving the Risen Lord.

Palm Leaf - People are fickle. Singing praises on Sunday does not guarantee you'll not be uttering curses by Friday. Guard your heart.

Perfume - Mary sacrificed her most precious possession in anointing Christ's feet. She poured out her all and was blatantly criticized.

Towel - Jesus left us an example of service, but it wasn't glamorous. Dirty feet can be disgusting and it is a thankless job but it doesn't change the call to take care of others.

Bread - Christ Himself calls us to His table. We are invited to dine with Him. To partake of His strength. To remember that when all the work and suffering is over that we will one day dine with Him again at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Praying Hands - Jesus wrestled with doing God's will. He agonized over it. He asked if there was another way, if He could not do it. God understands when we feel the same way. God's will was victorious. Jesus' obedience changed everything. So could ours.

Pieces of Silver - Temporary needs blind to things of eternal importance.

Purple cloth/Thorns - Self- righteous people can be cruel, rejecting and mocking. Jesus knows what it means to have his words twisted and be falsely accused.

Cross/Nails - Nails did not hold Almighty God to a cross; He was bound by love.

Linen clothes/Cloves - When all their hopes had been crushed and it was apparent that their perceptions and understanding must be absolutely wrong; those who loved Him were still faithful to Him by attending to his body.

Stone - The situation is impossible. It is all over. There's no way around this. It is too big, too heavy. There is no solution.

but most importantly of all...

The Empty Tomb- With God all things are possible. (Luke 1:37)

I pray that you will begin to understand
the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe him.

This is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and
seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. and just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.

For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.
(Ephesians 1:19, 20, Romans 8: 11, 16)