Easter Fun and Joy

It seems like over the years Easter has gathered a lot of fluff that can either serve as fun family-time or a way to hide from the significance of Jesus' death and return to life. I enjoy the fun of egg dying and hunting, making pretty treats, etc. as long as they don't obscure the real joy of Easter. (Although I have to say that my best Easter ever didn't have much of the fluff. It was spent at the graveside of Elizabeth Barton, my childhood best friend, and that day I understood and experienced the joy of Christ's work on the cross at a whole new level. I will never forget it.)

This happened to be a year when we made time for some of the fun activities and when I have taken more time meditating on the cross than normal, so here are some pictures of our fun, along with a quote that captures my meditations and my joy.

"Because Jesus was filled with horror and cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" we are filled with wonder and cry, "My God, my God, why have you accepted me?"

Because Jesus cried, "Father, forgive!" the taunts we hurled at Him at the cross are transformed into praise for His generous mercy.

Because Jesus said, "I thirst," we can drink from the fountain of living water and never thirst again.

Because Jesus said, "Woman, behold your son" and felt the pain of separation from His earthly family, we can experience the blessing of being united with a heavenly family.

Because Jesus cried, "It is finished!" our new life can begin.

Because Jesus committed His spirit into the Father’s hands, God commits His Spirit into our hearts." - Counterfeit Gospels by Trevin Wax