Gratefulness
From Jelly Beans to Jesus
Dear Jesus,
This season I celebrate your suffering and death for all of mankind. Every year I have celebrated this for as long as I could remember. In my early years, it was a time to color eggs, eat jelly beans and find the golden egg hidden on church grounds. Eagerly digging through the plastic green grass of my Easter basket searching for the chocolate bunny hoping it wasn’t hollow. Once in the earliest years we were even given a baby chick bright and yellow.
Then on Sunday I wore the dress my mother made, a very pretty dress with crinoline that made the dress poofy. That poofy dress with my new shiny patent leather shoes, my outfit was complete. We were proud because we knew nothing else. We did that until my mother could afford to buy my Easter dress.
At church on Easter Sunday, all of us lined up in front of the people repeating the Easter verse we had so diligently memorized. That was Easter then.
As I matured in you, I left the jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and colored eggs behind and celebrated your sacrifice with fasting, Good Friday and Sunrise services. Then culminated Easter with a wonderful family dinner after church. Although a teen now, I was still in the process of really understanding the depth of your sacrifice. I was still young and a lot of what I did was ‘follow the leader.’ This was what Christians do to celebrate Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. So, for many seasons of Holy Week, I did just that. I was a Christian and that is what Christians do.
But these last dozen or so years my knowledge and love for you have grown. Easter is no longer a traditional celebration, secular or religious, it’s personal from your heart to mine.
Yes, there are still jelly beans and pretty dresses but all of that pale in comparison to what you did for me. You suffered far more than I care to imagine so that I would be lifted into glory with you. You exchanged the righteousness that enrobed you for the sin that infested me. You clothed yourself with my sin and when final payment was due the Judge looked at me and found no fault but He looked at you wearing my shame and pronounced the sentence of death. You died a man who loved me but rose the God that saved me. So, I thank you, precious, precious Jesus.
Every time I take communion and I bite into the cracker it reminds me that I participated in crushing your body and spilling your blood. Yes, the Jews cried, “Crucify him!” but they were carrying out the orders my sin demanded.
You hung on the cross and the blood that ran down found me over 50 years ago. And it still flows over me this day. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for the blood. Thank you for your healing. Thank you that one day you’re coming back for me, and I like You will be raised a new body living with you forever. Thank you, Jesus!
Remembering the Cross!
Remembering the Tomb!
Remembering You Rose!…and now I sit in heavenly places with you!
Love Always,
Marilyn
Risen!
12 COMMENTS
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story of growth and understanding of the true meaning of Jesus Resurrection. Love the Praise song! God Bless! Love you Sweet Friend!
Thanks Joyce! I pray you had a marvelous resurrection Day! Love you!
What a blessing to read on this Resurrection Sunday morning. As our relationship and understanding with Christ increases, so does our love and appreciation. Thank you for this message of remembrance and reminder. Remembrance of where we’ve come from and reminder of what He’s done. Happy Resurrection Day.
Thankyou and I hope you had a joyous resurrection Day as well!
Good morning! Thank you for sharing your memories as a child celebrating Easter with your family and how your understanding of Jesus Christ sacrifice has evolved. I loved reading your story and I’m going to share it with my grandbabes. I’ve subscribed to read more of your writing. You’re truly gifted.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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