Easter thorn

   This morning I attended an Easter worship service at a church I have been visiting for over a month.  After the service they had a large Easter egg hunt.  All the kids were lined up on the sidewalk with their baskets in hand eager to jump in.  There was a crowd of people behind them to watch, but I wanted to get a clear view of the enthusiastic rush for plastic eggs.  So I walked over by the building to stand against a wall where there were no people.  Stepping through a mulch strip, there were bushes which had no foliage, which is no surprise because we have had a cold month.  But my dress pants snagged on some thorns.  I had thought the branches were from just any old bush, but they were extremely thorny rose bush branches.  Shortly after standing behind one of the rose bushes, the kids were released to grab eggs.
   Then I noticed there were two eggs in the thorn bush in front of me.  One of the children’s ministry leaders surely dropped them in there not knowing it was a rose bush.  Just then a young boy came to grab one, and I quickly warned him about the thorns.  Then I carefully looked at the bush and saw how many little thorns were poking out.  I decided to get the other egg out of there so no child would get hurt.  I slowly reached my hand down to get hold of the egg.  Though being careful, the branches were thick, and the back of the hand was pricked by a thorn.  It hurt.  I rubbed the tiny wound, and then I put my hand in there again.  Then I got a hold of the plastic egg and removed it from the bush and put it to the side.
   As I continued to stand there, the prick of the thorn was a reminder for me today of the suffering Jesus endured.  I thought of the contrast of thinking of Christ’s suffering on the day we Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with much joy.  The suffering is what I pondered Thursday and Friday after all.  Yet the little prick made the suffering more real for me on Easter.  Being only a quick prick, I considered the fact the painful crown of thorns put on Jesus’ head brought suffering for Him for hours.  God the Son was willing to suffer more than I can imagine because He loves people.
   The atonement Jesus made on the cross is finished!  Jesus was resurrected.  Every day we Christians can celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  Yet every day we can remember the suffering He endured for us and be thankful.  And every single day is a day where someone can believe in Jesus and receive the salvation He offers.
   I add that personal suffering and pain can still be known by any of us in the world on any given day.  Trouble remains daily in this world.  Yet on the first Easter, human history was changed, because beginning on that day, any person can have eternal life in Christ.
   Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the substitute for the penalty of sins, which is spiritual death.  Then He was resurrected!  He is in heaven!  And Jesus is still at work in the world through His Spirit!  All those who believe in Jesus receive the free gift of eternal life in Christ.
Jesus Christ is risen!
love,
Hunter Irvine