He Is Risen Indeed!

Since Hunter only had 1 egg hunt this year, James and I hid eggs last night so he could have a hunt around the house before church.  I took several pictures and when I was looking back at them, I was shocked at how big he looks...

Every time he picked up an egg, he'd shake it and then ask to open it.  We finally gave in, and he carefully opened the wrapper, set the pieces on the table, and then took all of his trash to the trash can.  He's such a clean freak...at least we know some lessons are sticking with him:)

He looks especially tall to me in this one...

I really wanted a family picture of everyone in our Easter clothes, but Charlotte was having a rough day from teething, and we had to sneak out of church early because my family was coming over to the house, so I only got these of Char after the rest of us had changed...

Throughout this weekend, we've been talking through the sacrifice Jesus made for us with Hunter.  Obviously he can't yet grasp what Jesus did for him, but Hunter's said some of the cutest things during our talks.  Friday morning before I left for work, James, H and I went out front to put our cross in the yard and say a prayer.  I explained to Hunter that it was Good Friday and that this was the day that Jesus died on the cross for our sin.  James and I each said a simple prayer, and then Hunter said, "Dear God, Thank you for this day.  Thank you for Jesus and the cross."  I was giddy.

Then that night, I was putting H to bed and I read the story of the Lord's last day in Hunter's bible.  During his prayer that night, Hunter said, "Dear God, Thank you for this day.  Thank you for mommy and daddy and Hunter and baby Charlotte..." and then he paused, which is not typical, so I asked if there was anything else he wanted to thank God for - cousin Zack was over and was sitting with us on the bed during all of this, so I thought he would say "Zack", but instead he said, "Jesus dying on the cross."  I couldn't believe it.  It was an indescribable feeling. 

This morning we went out front and turned our cross around to the "He is Risen!" side and said another little prayer after I explained that Jesus rose from the grave.  Obviously, Hunter had zero grasp of this concept.  He just looked at me with his sweet, innocent eyes and we went inside.  When I picked him up from church, Mrs. Kay said, "Hunter,  is Jesus alive or dead?"  and he said, "dead."  So we both quickly corrected him.  When James came up, we repeated the same conversation with the same answer from Hunter.  But when Nana came over, I asked him again, and he said, "Jesus is alive!"  So maybe it's sinking in a little:)

I know that it'll be a really long time before Hunter will understand what Jesus did for him.  There are times when I still don't understand it.  I don't think any of us can ever completely grasp the fullness of God's love for us.  But here's what I do know...my sin held Jesus on that cross 2000 years ago.  For my sin was upon his shoulders as he made himself a sacrifice for us, and now I can live with God and stand in his presence because of that sacrifice.  So we can and should all be thankful, as Hunter's words state, that Jesus died on the cross, but there's so much more to it than that.  Yes, he died on the cross...but then he rose.  That's the most important part of the story.  He is risen.  He is alive.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Luke 24:5b-7