The pastor visited the Sunday School to see what the little darlings had learned about Easter.
"Who can tell me what Easter is?" he asked and all the hands waved in the air. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, he called on bright-eyed Jessica.
"Easter is when we put on special new clothes," Jessica began as the pastor beamed, "and then we go around to all the neighbors and say 'Trick or Treat.'"
Somewhat disappointed, the pastor next called on little Zachary. "Easter is when we go to church early in the morning," Zachary said as the pastor nodded encouragement. "And then when we get home we get to look in our stockings and open all the presents under the tree."
"Ask Chadwick," the Sunday School teacher whispered to the pastor, indicating a serious looking boy in glasses. The pastor gave a nod to the class braniac who rose to occasion. "Easter," he said, "is when Jesus comes up out of a dark hole in the earth." Finally, the pastor sighed to himself. "But if he sees his shadow," Chadwick continued, "he goes right back inside and we have six more weeks of winter."
Children are so very cute!
Love U
Nowadays there is a lot of awareness of the mythological aspects of Jesus' life, and there are valid questions over whether he even lived at all. I believe he did, just as I believe Krishna, Quetzalcoatl, and White Buffalo Calf woman were real people at one time. I think Deganawidah was a real person. They may in some cases have even been the same individual. I think Jesus survived the crucifixion and continued his work. He may have lived another 30 years, spreading the truth and maybe even having a family.
The day before entering Jerusalem for the final time - we call it Palm Sunday - Jesus and his group stayed at Jericho. That morning they were on the road early, walking the 22 uphill miles to Jerusalem. As they left Jericho, they encountered a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, and Jesus restored his sight. This beggar was of such little account that he didn't even have a name - Bartimaeus means simply son of Timaeus. I see this guy, blind from birth, as a raconteur, who got by on his wits and his ability to tell a story. Timaeus was a Greek storyteller, and I can see the beggars camped out on the ground outside the western walls of the city, soaking in the last rays of the setting sun. His companions said, "Tell us another! You're a regular Timaeus!" The next morning he heard the clamor of the crowd leaving Jericho, and on learning who it was he cried out to Jesus. People tried to hush him up, but Jesus heard him and stopped and talked with him. And restored his eyesight. I believe this happened. It is my favorite part of the Easter story - or myth, or whatever it is.
8-D