Q: Why was the Easter Bunny so upset?

A: He was having a bad hare day!

Q: What do you call ten rabbits marching backwards?

A: A receding hareline

Q: Where does the Easter Bunny go when he needs a new tail?

A:To a re-tail store!

Boy 1: "How did you get that bruise on your arm?"

Boy 2: "I ate some Easter candy."

Boy 1: "Eating Easter candy won't give you a bruise."

Boy 2: "It will if it's your big brother's candy!"

I’m sure there has been lots of candy consumed this Easter, but we know that there is a lot more to Easter than candy and bunnies.

Easter is the event which defines us as Christians. It is the one doctrine which sets us apart from all other beliefs. If we go to the tombs of Confucius, Mohammed, or Buddha, we'll find them occupied. The tomb of Jesus Christ is empty. The apostle Paul said, "if Christ is not raised, our faith is in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14*) What we believe as Christians hinges on the resurrection. It is the lynch pin of our faith.

1Corinthians 15:3-6 "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

Jesus’ Death Was Real

Some have said Jesus wasn’t really dead. This reminds me of an article I read in the Globe and Mail on Tuesday. Apparently a sleeping senior in an extended care facility in B.C. was accidentally taken to a hospital morgue. The driver sent to pick up a deceased patient did not properly check the patient's identity, and took the wrong person. While this was a case of mistaken identity and the patient was not really dead, Jesus did die. Lets look at the evidence.

• Witnesses saw him breath his last (Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46)

• Rush of blood and water showed separation of blood into its parts which happens after death (John 9:34)

• The military officer in charge confirmed Jesus’ death for Pilate (Mark 15:44-45)

• These people were familiar with death

Even if Jesus didn't really die, he would have been in such bad shape he would have been too weak. I once visited a lady in the hospital who had been hit by ice and snow flying off the top of a tractor-trailer. The ice came through her windshield, showering her with shards of glass and stripping the skin from her face and upper body. She was in excruciating pain, and required constant medical attention in the hospital burn unit where she was attended. This would have been only a fraction of the more severe injuries Jesus would have sustained.

The Resurrection was Real

Lets look again at the evidence we have that Jesus was raised from the dead.

• The empty tomb

• Jesus appeared to the women outside the tomb, who touched him (Matthew 28:9-10; John 20:10-18)

• Jesus walked with two people (one named Cleopas) at once on road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)

• Followers saw him in the upper room (Luke 24:36-37; John 20:19)

• People saw his wounds (John 20:20)

• People touched him (Luke 24:39)

• Thomas the skeptic touched him and believed (John 20:24-29)

• Jesus ate in their presence at least twice (Luke 24:42-43; John 21:12)

• Jesus met the apostles in Galilee (Matthew 28:16; John 21)

• Large groups (up to 500) saw Jesus (Luke 24:50; Acts 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:6)

• People saw Jesus over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3)

Why is this so important to us?

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Had a Purpose

• 1 John 4:9-10 "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

• John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

This is the hope of the resurrection - that there is life beyond the grave. My body may stop, but my soul will live eternally in God’s presence because I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I hope you are a follower of Jesus Christ. If you are, you have the assurance of life beyond the grave. This is one of the things we can look forward to as followers of Jesus Christ.

If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, why not trust him? A simple prayer can help you become his follower : "Jesus - I believe you died for my sins, so I could have eternal life. I accept your gift of life to me. Help me to trust you more every day. I know I can’t get eternal life on my own - I want to follow you." If you have prayed this, tell a Christian friend or minister -- they will help you take follow-up steps.

Hope this helps you understand the death and resurrection of Jesus. Until next week, be On Fire.

Troy

ON FIRE is a weekly letter of encouragement by Troy Dennis. This letter published Easter, Mar 27, 2005. www.onfireletter.com