We here at the Johanik household wish you a happy Easter Sunday. If Jesus hadn’t risen from the grave, we would have no hope in this life.

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

 

The boys enjoyed some traditional egg-coloring today:

Bubbie checked the final products to be sure they passed inspection:

And although we are not Jewish, we celebrated Passover on Good Friday, only we celebrated from a Christian perspective. Our family has done Passover seders in the past, but this was the first year all the boys could really participate. I so wanted to take a picture of Jeremy’s pudgy hands holding his glass up with the rest of us, but chose not to ruin the seriousness of the occasion.

The funniest moment came when it was time to taste the bitter herbs which represent the bitterness of slavery that the Israelites endured in Egypt. Well, let me tell you, that was some mighty potent horseradish. One dot on the tongue sent fire straight up the nostrils like a volcano. And more than just a dot was spread on our crackers, so there was some serious fire being breathed out. We all (even Jim) had tears in our eyes. Jake went running into the kitchen for water. Jeremy stood up with his hands in his mouth screaming, “it spicy!”. I suppose we all learned indirectly the bitterness and pain of slavery.

I am continually amazed how everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus. For one, the spotless lamb that each household was to kill in order for the angel of death to pass over them is really a picture of Jesus. He is the spotless lamb who was killed so that we might not endure hell. And He was killed on the Passover! Oh, I could go on for pages about the symbolism of the Israelites in Egypt and their eventual Exodus.

It shows that God’s planning and timing are perfect. He knows what He’s doing…even today. Sure, He wrote history back in Bible times, but He most certainly continues to write it today. He sets up presidents and leaders of nations, and He also leads, comforts, and provides for “the little people” like me.