On the first day of the week, very early in the morning the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

Luke 24:1 (NIV)

It was the annual Easter Egg Hunt at church. Kids with baskets eagerly lined up to find the most plastic eggs with candy inside. The leader announced, “Whoever finds the empty egg gets the grand prize!” The children were confused. Should they go for candy eggs or the grand prize?

Confusion was part of that first Easter also. The women thought they would anoint a body, but instead found an empty tomb. Jesus’ disciples did not know what to think until they saw the Risen Christ. The One they had been following was the Messiah! Jesus had risen just as He said. The empty Easter egg was the grand prize because it was a reminder that Jesus had risen for us all! What a great gift!

Margaret Hinchey
Loveland, CO

Dear Jesus, thank You for giving us the unexpected — the gift of eternal life. Amen.

Reflect: When have you experienced something you weren’t expecting. Were you happy or disappointed?

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-5 and John 20:1-10