I love the triumphant truth of Easter. Easter presents a message of loving sacrifice as Jesus died for us on the cross, but it has a victorious ending. Three days later, Christ conquered death, and He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
The greatest news in the world was announced in a graveyard.
A man was walking down a street in Chicago when in a store window he saw a vivid painting which portrayed the crucifixion. Gazing intently at the display, he became aware that at his side was another spectator, a dirty, poorly clad boy of the street.
Touching the boy on the shoulder, the man asked, “Son, what does it mean?”
“That man is Jesus,” the boy replied, “And them others is Roman soldiers, and the woman what’s crying is His mother, and,” he added, with emotion, “They killed him.”
Finally, the man turned and walked down the street, but in a moment he heard footsteps running after him and the boy shouting: “Mister, mister, I forgot to tell you, but He rose again!”
Another man and his ever-nagging wife were taking a Holy Land excursion. They were touring Jerusalem, and while they were there, his wife passed away. The undertaker told the husband, “You can have her buried in the Holy Land for $150, or we can ship her back home for $5000.”
The husband thought about it, and told the undertaker he would have her shipped back home. The undertaker asked him, “Why would you spend $5000 to have her shipped home when you could have a beautiful burial here, and it would only cost $150?”
The husband replied, “Long ago, a man died here, was buried here, and three days later, rose from the dead. I just can’t take that chance!”
I have written previously of my favorite real life Easter story that happened 30 years ago this weekend. We were eight-and-a-half months pregnant with our third baby and were buying our first home. I was early into our first pastorate. On Good Friday, we closed on our house purchase, and then finished our packing.
Early Saturday, church members arrived with the rental truck and we spent an exhausting day loading, hauling and unloading. It was a good day. I hit the sack about 11:15 after briefly reviewing my Easter sermon, and I fell fast asleep.
At 11:45, my wife woke me up and informed me her water had broken. I jumped up, threw on some clothes, and realized that our phone was not connected yet. Those were the days of land lines only.
I knew no neighbors, but I had church members about a mile away. I hurried to their house and rang the doorbell. I needed a phone and a babysitter for two sleeping preschoolers.
I called the doctor and he asked to speak to my wife. I explained that my wife wasn’t there, we had just moved, I was at another house using their phone because ours wasn’t connected, and this baby was coming.
He said, “I’d still rather speak to her personally.” He didn’t get it the first time, and I think he was concerned about missing the Easter bunny, so I got a little more assertive.
“Dr. Moore, my wife’s not here. I’m at someone else’s house using the phone. Our phone is not working yet because we just moved in today. My wife is home packing and waiting for me to get back. She’s an RN, this is our third child, and she knows what she’s talking about. This baby is coming and we’re going to the hospital.” So he said he’d meet us there.
We arrived at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, got set up, and about three hours later, celebrated the birth of our third daughter, Ruth Erin Chancey. Church members referred to her as “baby Ruth.”
Later, I made it to church and we had a great Easter service! I was running on adrenaline, and preached without sleep, and it was an Easter to remember!
Thirty years later, our Easter baby is expecting her first baby in early May! And we can’t wait!
Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Georgia. The church is located at 352 McDonough Road, just past the driver’s services building, and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. The Easter Sunrise Service is at 7:15 a.m. Visit them at www.mcdonoughroad.org.
