I have lovely memories of celebrating Easter from my childhood. My mother, who had a knack for making every holiday special had us dying eggs, setting out trays of jelly beans and marshmallow peeps while she whipped up a delicious meal as if it were nothing.

We all wore our new Easter outfits and headed to church, but not without a family photo. When we arrived home, it was all hands on deck to get the ham on the table along with all of the fixins’. 

The topic of conversation was not the miracle of the resurrection that occurred on this day, but rather the banter was focused on our family. Who’s doing what and who’s going where? It was quality time to get caught up with each other’s lives and share a laugh or two.

It seems to me that this is similar (not the same!) to what happened on Easter Sunday some 2000+ years ago.  As the apostles sat around the table, mourning the loss of their friend and teacher, Jesus appears. While they were frightened at first, Jesus quickly put them at ease:

“Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.” (Luke 24:36-40 NKJV)

I suspect they might still have been a little shaky in completely believing (who wouldn’t?) so Jesus addresses this doubt as well as He asks them for something to eat.

“But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”  So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.” (Luke 24:41-42 NKJV)

The first Easter meal – some fish and honey. Not quite what you and I may be preparing today

 but I’m sure it was the best meal the apostles ever ate because they were eye witnesses to the miraculous.

Sure, they’d seen Jesus raise people from the dead (remember Lazarus?), but this was different…VERY different.

Why? Because the resurrection of Jesus proved He was who He said He was…the Son of God. (If you recall, even the Roman soldier declared this at Jesus’ crucifixion when he said – “Truly this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54 NKJV))

Everything Jesus had told them over the past three plus years came to fruition on this day. Every truth. Every teaching. Every prophecy. Boom! Right there in front of them sharing a meal.

Today, as you come to your holiday table, I would like to encourage you to read the above passage of Scripture aloud. Resurrection Sunday is so much more than a delicious family dinner. I hope you will take a moment to give thanks for the miraculous (and only) reason you are gathered together on this amazing day.

P.S. If you would like to learn more about how magnificent Jesus is, click here to watch or listen to the Elevate The Day podcast “Magnificent Jesus with Rev. Tony Cooke.