“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.” Mark 16:6 

Every year at this time, I can’t help but think back on Easter Sunday mornings when I was a kid. What fun!  

A day or two before Easter, my brother, sisters and I would dye Easter eggs on the picnic bench in our back yard, preparing for Sunday. I still remember the pastel colors and the vinegar smell of the dye and the competition of who could make the prettiest egg. (FYI - it was never my brother or me. We usually ended up with more dye on ourselves than on the eggs.)  

But then, the excitement early on Sunday morning, lining up, our parents giving us our Easter baskets, the “On your mark, get set, GO!” followed by the rush of hunting for the eggs, and the surprise and wonder of finding them wherever they were hidden.  

Surprise and wonder have always been a part of the Easter story. I think of the first followers of Jesus – the men and women who were His disciples. They had followed Him in hope, some for three years. They had staked their lives on His claims. But now, He had been crucified; buried in a tomb. Jesus is gone - He’s dead. The disciples were devasted and confused, hiding in darkness and fear. Lost.  

But then, “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning,” (Matthew 28:1), imagine the surprise of the women who went to the tomb; the sudden earthquake and the appearance of an angel before them. (Have you noticed, by the way, it seems like, every time an angel shows up in the Bible, their first words are, “Do not be afraid”? Makes sense to me!) 

Imagine the shock at the angel’s words – “Jesus isn’t here! He is risen from the dead. Go quickly and tell the disciples…”

Surprise! 

And then, on their way, the wonder of meeting Jesus, Himself!  

Surprise! 

And what about the disciples as Jesus met them in Galilee giving them marching orders and a new purpose? 

Surprise! 

Imagine Peter, after he had denied Jesus three times, meeting Him on the beach and receiving forgiveness and a new lease on life.  

Surprise! 

Or what about the disciples who walked and talked with a stranger on the Road to Emmaus, only to discover it was Jesus as they broke bread together? 

Surprise! 

The entire account of Jesus’ death and resurrection is one of surprises. And we can only imagine the deep and great joy as the disciples looked on in awe and wonder at what God had done.  

God still has a way of surprising us – of offering hope in the darkest moments – of making a way when there seems to be no way at all.  

Easter is a reminder that no matter how bad things look, the Lord is always at work – often bringing surprises in the midst of suffering. Surprises of redemption. Surprises of hope. Surprises of joy.  

If you’re in a dark place, don’t forget that Sunday is coming, and God is still God. Trust Him! 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!