Jesus died such a cruel death on the cross.  He suffered in agony for all of our sins.  This beautiful, perfect man that had done no wrong was beat until He was bloody, then nailed to the cross.  He hung there with nails in His hands and feet with a crown of thorns on His head.   His mother, Mary, watched in horror and cried so many tears that day.  There on Calvary, Jesus died for you and for me.

His lifeless body was taken down from the cross and prepared for burial.  They performed the rituals before placing the body of Jesus Christ in the tomb.  They rolled a stone in place and had guards standing guard.

Ah, but the grave could not hold THE KING!

 On the third day, God whispered to His Son … “Arise, My Love” ... and Jesus arose from the dead!  Praise GOD, Jesus arose, just as He said He would!

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This morning my youngest daughter flung open the door to my bedroom as she ran to plop down on my bed.  With her sparkling blue eyes looking up at me, she smiled and put her arm around my shoulder.  I kissed her forehead, and then I asked if she knew what this day was all about.  Yes, it is Easter, but it is so much more than Easter bunnies, candy, and searching for brightly colored eggs.  Thankfully, she already knew this, but I felt in that moment that I needed to tell her the Easter story to be sure that she knew, without a shadow of a doubt!  And she did!  I am so proud to know that my daughter knows what Easter truly is about, but not only that, she has asked Jesus into her heart.  She has accepted the gift of eternal life through Jesus!  I want us to be here on this earth for a very long time, and I pray that God allows us to live long, healthy lives together.  When our time comes, we have the assurance that while we may not see each other for a while, we will be reunited in Heaven.  We have lost loved ones in the past – my sister, my granddaddy, and then my grandma – but I know that I will see them again one sweet day  all because of what Jesus did on the cross.  He died so that we may have eternal life through Him.  And I thank Him … oh, how I thank Him!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!