The First Easter

This is the happiest story in the whole world. It begins on a very sad day, but it ends with the best surprise ever.

Jesus spent his life loving people. He made sick people well, he welcomed children, and he taught everyone about God's love. But some people didn't like what Jesus said and did. They had him put on a cross, and there, Jesus died.

Jesus could have stopped them, but he didn't. He gave his life because he loves us so much, to take away all the wrong things we have done, so we can be close to God forever.

His friends were so sad. Their hearts felt broken.

That evening, a rich man named Joseph, from the town of Arimathea, went to the ruler, Pilate. Joseph was a follower of Jesus, and he asked if he could take care of Jesus' body. Joseph gently wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth. He laid it in his own new tomb, a room cut into the rock, like a cave. Then he rolled a big, heavy stone across the doorway. Mary Magdalene and another Mary sat nearby, watching. They loved Jesus very much.

The next day, soldiers came to guard the tomb, and they sealed the stone shut.

Very early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. Suddenly, the ground shook! There was a great earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from the sky, rolled the stone away, and sat on it! He shone like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards were so scared, they shook and fell down flat. The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid."

"He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying."

The tomb was empty! The women hurried away, a little bit afraid, and full of great joy, to tell Jesus' disciples. Then two of the disciples, Peter and John, ran to the tomb as fast as they could. John was faster, and got there first! They looked inside. There were the linen cloths, lying there, and the cloth from Jesus' head, rolled up by itself. But Jesus was not there. John saw, and he believed. But they still didn't understand it all, and they went back home.

But Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb, crying. She missed Jesus so much, and her heart was all mixed up. She bent down and looked into the tomb. There she saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus' body had been. They asked her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they have laid him."

Then she turned around, and saw a man standing there. Mary didn't know who he was. She thought he must be the gardener. He asked her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" Mary said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him."

Then the man said just one word. "Mary."

And straight away, she knew that voice. It was Jesus! Jesus was alive!

She turned and said to him, "Rabboni!" which means "Teacher!" Jesus told her to go and tell his friends the wonderful news. So Mary ran, as fast as her feet would go, and she told the disciples that she had seen the Lord!

The tomb was empty because Jesus had risen, just like he said he would. Jesus is alive! And that's why, every Easter, we celebrate. We sing, and we smile, because Jesus is alive forever!

This story teaches us that Jesus is stronger than anything, even death. He loves us, and he is alive today. So we can celebrate, and know that Jesus is always with us.