Blessed Easter

Young Philip never felt like he belonged. He was pleasant enough but he looked a bit different and seemed unusual to his eight-year-old classmates.

In Sunday school class several weeks before Easter, Phillip’s teacher introduced a special project. She gave every child a plastic "egg" - the kind pantyhose used to come in. She explained that each child was to go outside, find a symbol for new life and put it into the egg. Enthusiastically, the children responded. They raced outside and started gathering things. Back in the classroom the eggs were opened one at a time with each child explaining the meaning of his symbol.

The first egg had a pretty flower; the next a beautiful butterfly. Green grass was in a third. The children "oohed" and "aahed". Finally the last egg was opened - there was nothing in it.

“That’s stupid,” exclaimed one child. Another grumbled, “Someone didn’t do it right!”

The teacher felt a tug on her shirt. It was Phillip, who said, “That’s mine, and I did do right! It’s empty, ’cause the tomb was empty.”

There was an unusual, thoughtful silence. And strangely, from that time on, Phillip was accepted as part of the group. Phillip continued to struggle with many physical problems. That summer he picked up an infection which most children would easily have shaken off. But Philip’s weak body couldn’t and a few weeks later, he died.

At his funeral nine eight-year-olds with their teacher brought their symbol of remembrance and placed it near his coffin. Their unusual gift of love to Phillip wasn’t flowers. It was an empty egg - now a symbol to them of new life and hope. Little Philip reminds us of new life. New life we celebrate here together, on the most important day in our church year. Yes, it’s important Jesus was born at Christmas. But it is critical to know Christ rose from the dead. Revealing to us the empty tomb, gaining victory over death.

We cannot find Christ, the ultimate symbol of new life, anywhere. We cannot hold him, we cannot put him in a convenient little box… or egg. Why? Because we have an empty tomb. Christ rose again and is walking among us in the hearts of those who follow him.

Blessed Easter, everyone!