pastels, chocolate bunnies, and that dress your Mom made you wear.

advice: microwave your peeps for 16 seconds and watch them come to life. (psst: this could get messy- and, you might not want to do it in front of the kids)

Indeed He has risen. And, regardless of linen proof and words of witnesses, despite fulfillment of prophecy from a man who even predicted his own death- man still doubted.

How was the stone moved?
Which account of the gospels to the story right?
Which story is MOST historically accurate?
All insignificant.

Mary and Mary were said to have "hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy"- (completely typical of women to have such mixed emotions-right? haha).

The chief priests acted in deceit- lying to their people out of fear.

Mary and Mary, completely frazzled, risking appearing completely insane- bring the disciples to see the tomb. These disciples, hand-picked to follow Jesus, saw Jesus perform the most amazing miracles, and STILL Matthew 28:17 states "..some doubted".

The stone was moved, linens piled upon the ground of the tomb, as the disciples knelt in astonishment. In confusion and fear, they doubted the reality of what they saw. In this doubt Jesus appeared in full authority of heaven and earth, commissioning these disciples to teach the world to obey everything he had commanded.

Jesus didn't have to appear to them. What if he hadn't? Out of love for them and knowing they were stunned and confused, and in their doubt, Jesus appeared to them to clarify what had happened and what they needed to proceed doing.

Doubt- my own personalized plague. Without God in my life, I would easily be controlled by doubt- doubting everything, everyone, every thought, every action, every everything.

His love and power were made complete through His resurrection, and still while kneeling on the ground of the tomb seeing the linens on the ground and having heard the words from Mary and Mary- some disciples STILL doubted.

Though I am obviously not kneeling in His empty tomb, I have witnessed His miracles in my life- and STILL my imperfect nature causes my heart to doubt God's power and presence in my life.

People so often say- "seeing is believing...and belief triumphs over doubt".

Well- the eleven disciples saw the empty tomb. They saw the linens on the ground. They witnessed Jesus perform miracle after miracle. They heard his prophecy of his own death and watched him be innocently and brutally crucified-

the linens were there-
the stone was moved-
the tomb was empty-
"..but, some doubted".

Obviously seeing is NOT believing.
How much must we see before we believe?

This life has nothing to do with seeing, but rather faith.
So, truly I'm challenged to walk by faith, not by sight.

now, pass me a red jelly belly.