Well it's that time of year, again. There is pollen covering things you swear you didn't even take outside. The wind blows cold and the sun shines hot. You don't know to put on shorts or jeans, and neither does anyone else. Tornado drills are well under practice, and you loose more umbrellas than you bought. It is also time for Peter Cottontail himself. So out come the pastel dresses, the Easter eggs stuffed with melted chocolate, and the Easter Sunday Church Service where they will tell us this day is so much more than the Egg Hunts (even though we're having one right after services on the playground).
Easter is actually my favorite holiday and always has been. When I was little, I liked it, because I always knew I got to pick out a new dress, stuff my face with candy, and get excited that my birthday was creeping up quickly. As I have grown older, Easter has stayed my favorite holiday for a different reason. I had heard the story of Jesus' death so many times I could probably repeat it back to you very similar to the bible verses themselves, but my junior year of high school I heard the Easter story in a different way. I had never realized a key part of Jesus' death that made the story so much better.
First, I must prepare you. I'm a real stickler for a comeback. Who isn't? Whether it's a football game or...(okay who am I kidding just a comeback SEC football game). It is amazing. To feel so defeated, hurt, and let-down, to feeling like you coached the winning team yourself, there's nothing like it. God likes comebacks, too. He planned Jesus' story to be the ultimate comeback of all time.
Okay, you're ready to hear it now. The part of Jesus' death that no one emphasizes much is the fact that Satan had no idea (NONE) what was going on. I don't know why, but I always pictured that Satan knew Jesus would rise again from the moment Jesus died, but he didn't. I think that this way of the Lord writing Jesus' story shows the creativity and wisdom of the Lord, because he knew what a comeback does to his children's emotions. So let's imagine this. The moment Jesus takes his last breath on the cross, Satan thought he had won. He thought that the battle was over, and that he had the victory. I picture him throwing a huge party, laughing, and carrying on the moment Jesus hung his head. This party went on and on until the third day Jesus was in the tomb. I imagine Satan sitting at the end of a large banquet table having a ball, and, then, turning his head at the sound of one of Jesus' feet hit the floor. (Side Note- I also imagine Satan like Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter if that helps you.) I picture him standing up from his chair and yelling, "SILENCEEEEEEE!!!" Then, I imagine him closing his eyes, and grabbing his head as he hears the other of Jesus' feet hit the foot of the tomb. In rage, I see Satan wipe his arms across the table, throwing everything to the floor. I picture him weeping out of anger in his chair as all his acquaintances quietly and quickly leave the table. Satan had lost, but not before the Lord made sure that he felt the most high so that God could crush him to the most low. I love this comeback, and it makes me so happy for Easter. Easter to me means celebrating the Lord hating my sin so much, yet loving me so much that he let his own son, feel all the pain of the world so that he could see me pure as snow. His daughter, his princess, his girl. I hope this comeback story settles your heart for Easter, knowing that your heavenly father carefully planned a story to save you from whatever mess your sin has created and give you an amazing, everlasting life.
Happy Easter + Infinite X's and O's,
Claire
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