Christian Living

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THE 21ST CENTURY NEWS



“EASTER MADNESS”

Little Soli Solomon let the screen door slam behind him. Throwing his backpack full of school books on the floor, he fell back into a huge overstuffed chair in the family room. Letting out a sigh that could be heard at the other end of the house, he waited for his mom to respond to his dramatic entrance.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Mom appeared with an armful of clothes fresh out of the dryer. Throwing them down on the couch, Martha Solomon stood and looked at her little third grader who was almost buried in his father’s chair.
“What are you doing home early? I thought you were going to spend some time at the Taylor’s house with Bud.”
“I was,” mumbled Soli. Then he grew silent and continued to stare at the ceiling.
“All right, tell me what’s wrong,” Martha said as she sat down and began to fold the warm clothes.
“I don’t know what’s wrong, Mom. I guess I’m just confused at what Bud Taylor’s been telling me about Easter. I thought everybody celebrated Easter the same way we do. You know, a big sale at Dad’s clothing store, then the annual ‘Easter Egg hunt’ at the park followed by our family picnic.”
Martha Solomon laid down the shirt she was folding, and took a moment to collect her thoughts. She knew this day would come, but didn’t expect it to come from Bud Taylor. She knew Bud was a sweet kid, and Soli really liked him; but the Taylor’s didn’t seem religious, so she let their friendship continue without much thought.
“Okay,” Martha said with a sigh. “Tell me what he told you about Easter and let me see if I can help.”
“Well,” Soli began, “I don’t know if I can remember it all, but Bud said it has to do with someone called Jesus and a cross.
“Bud said that Jesus lived a long time ago around Jerusalem and was Jewish just like us. He said that this Jesus was actually the Son of God, the Messiah, and He came to die as a sacrifice lamb for the redemption of our sins.
“Bud also told me that the people of Jerusalem got mad at what Jesus was doing, like healing the sick and raising people from the dead, and killed Him by putting Him on a cross. But that wasn’t all. When they buried Him in a grave He didn’t stay there! And Bud says, ‘That’s what Easter is all about.’ He called it ‘Resurrection Day,’ the day Jesus rose up from the dead!”
Soli took a deep breath and continued, “And that’s not all Mom. Bud said that after Jesus rose from the dead He went back to heaven to be with God the Father. Now, Bud told me, I can ask Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and He will. What do you think about that Mom?”
Martha Solomon’s head was spinning. This certainly caught her by surprise. So trying to remember all of what Rabbi Jacobs had taught her in Sabbath School, she launched into what she had been taught as a child.
“Soli, first of all, this Jesus that Bud is talking about was a Jewish boy just like you; but he was just a man, not the Son of God. Some say he was a good man who did good deeds, perhaps even a prophet. But I assure you, son, because the Rabbi has assured me—he was not the Messiah!”
“But Mom,” Soli replied, with his little face wrinkled up in concern, “Bud sounded so sure of himself; and he told me that his mom and dad believe Jesus is the Messiah, too.”
Concerned for her little son’s confusion, Martha Solomon leaned her face close to his and took his hands in her own.
“Son,” she said, “would Mom lie to you?”
“No,” little Soli replied with a croak in his throat.
“Then you need to believe me when I tell you that Jesus was just a man, and Easter has nothing to do with this fairy tale about Him being raised from the dead. So get all of that silliness out of your head and go out and play.”
Soli slowly pulled himself out of Dad’s huge chair and stretched. Suddenly throwing his arms around his mother’s neck, he squeezed her tight.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said with a grin. “I knew I could depend on you. I guess Bud is the one who’s confused about Easter.” With that, the screen door slammed again and little Soli Solomon was off on another afternoon adventure.
Three Questions—
#1. What do you believe about Easter?
#2. Where do you get your information?
#3. Who are you passing it on to?


Bud Taylor is right!
Happy Resurrection Day!

George Watkins, Apostle

(In the continuing tradition that Jesus began, these are stories and parables that bring to life God’s truth and principles for daily living. Some are from life experiences that God has taught me along the journey that I have had with Him.)

[email protected] drgeorgewatkins.com

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