Satan thought he won.

Jesus was nailed to the cross.  He was dead.  They buried Him in a tomb, sealed a large rock over the opening, and had guards posted.

No one was getting through to make it look like He was alive.

I assume there was much rejoicing in Hell that day.  Or at least, evil, maniacal cackling.  

But God wasn’t worried.  This was all part of His plan.  Nothing surprises God, not even His Son dying on a cross.

Jesus wasn’t prepared for how it felt – the physical pain or the emotional wrought as His Heavenly Father turned His face away because of the sin – OUR sin – that Jesus took on Himself.  But God wasn’t surprised.  

The world and Hell thought it was the end.

But God said, “Just wait.”

Three days later, Jesus did rise again.  He defeated sin and death and rolled the stone away.  He burst forth in life, love, and power.

I can only imagine how shocked Satan was.  How irate.  

But God’s love is more pure and powerful than we can even imagine.  

Today, we remember Jesus’ death.  

(As I type this, my four-year-old son just walked in and said, “I’m ringing a sad bell.”  I asked why he was ringing a sad bell.  He said, “Because Jesus is dying.”  And my son slowly walked back out of the office – a solemn procession of four-year-old intenseness.) 

Death can be sad.  It IS sad.

But today we remember this isn’t the end of the story!

Many of us are finishing up Easter preparations (or, if you’re like me, you haven’t even dug your kid’s Easter baskets out of the basement yet), and I hope you have a fantastic Easter with your family.  I hope you find all the eggs and enjoy the candy.  (I hope the weather is good!)

But I also pray that you take time to remember how important this weekend is that we celebrate.  

This weekend is what the Christian life is all about.

Happy Easter!