The Scheer Flyer: Easter 2012

Matt's writing this one. Ellie does a super job writing her posts and picking great pictures of the kiddos, but as I was reflecting on the Easter story this year I had something that I felt like sharing. If you're only interested in the kid pictures I understand, just scroll down! :) But have you ever noticed the difference in the disciples actions while Jesus was being arrested and tried, and how they acted after his resurrection? I mean how could Peter go from denying Christ to a servant girl, to boldly and unapologetically proclaiming Christ's teachings all the way to his martyr's death? Why was John the only disciple bold enough to attend the crucifiction and comfort Mary, but later on 10 of the remaining 11 disciples boldly refused to deny Christ and were put to death for it?

We see their true colors as they all hide in a locked room awaiting soldiers to come arrest them at any moment. And really you can't blame them. You can see from several scripture passages that they didn't fully understand what Christ was teaching when he was with them. He had talked of a coming kingdom (which they thought was a physical revolution against Rome), he had claimed to be God himself, and yet here he was locked in a tomb. They must have been wondering if anything he said was true.

So how could they go from that to enduring torture and death while refusing to recant their belief in Christ and the resurrection? I think there can be only one explanation. Only by seeing Christ post-crucifiction, by walking with him, and by touching his wounds could they have been given the assurance that what they had believed all along was true. Speaking for myself, it's the only thing that would have brought that change about in me!

There are many theories out there as to what happened to Jesus' body. Most scholars, even if not admitting to a resurrection, at least agree that the body was missing. The chief theory is that his disciples stole the body and made up the resurrection. But that just doesn't explain their behavior. We know they were scared to death of persecution and imprisonment. So if the resurrection was nothing but a trick that they pulled on the world there is no way 10 of the remaining 11 would individually endure torture and eventually death for refusing to deny Christ. They KNEW he was alive!

Anyway, just some thoughts on a matter that for me is one of the most compelling arguments of what really happened on Easter 2000 years ago. We serve a risen Lord!

Well I didn't spend all of Easter thinking of such things...we all had a great Easter weekend in Bellevue full of eggs (colored and chocolate), chocolate bunnies, and all the other delicious Easter sweets! Here are some pictures of the kiddos. Hope you enjoy.