The couple sped to the emergency room.  It was dark, nearly 10:30 p.m.  It had seemed that their daughter was a little late coming home from her after-school job at the burger place.

The call from the hospital had been very brief, and the nurse would only say that there had been an accident and that their daughter was in the emergency room being seen by the doctor.  No, they couldn’t talk to her.  No, the nurse couldn’t say how badly she was injured.  No, the nurse couldn’t give any more details, just please come right away, but don’t speed, because one accident was enough.

They both whispered prayers to themselves.  “Let her be O.K.  Let her be alive.  Let her not be suffering.”  Just 18 months before another couple in their church had arrived at the emergency room to find out that their son had already been dead before they had received the call, so they knew what could be waiting for them.

They ran into the emergency room together and told the receptionist who they were.  They were ushered into the back rooms, and to their immense relief their daughter in some bandages, sat up on the bed and started to cry.  She would be OK.

Such happy endings bring joy beyond belief.  What a joy it is to find out that the person we love is really OK, really was only slightly injured, really will live!!

Can you imagine a happy ending where the person we love suffers terribly and dies slowly?

In the season of Lent, we witness such a story – the only one of its kind.  We are alerted to our sin, and the terrible wreckage that it makes of life.  We are called to the cross, to see what Jesus can do about it.  But when we go to the cross, we find out that the worst is happening.  Because of our sin, sin that Jesus carries for us, the unthinkable happens.  Jesus suffers the terrible anger of God because of our sins.  Nothing can be done.  He suffers terribly, and slowly, He dies.

It was no happy ending for the disciples that Friday, as Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb, and there couldn’t be now, ever, because Jesus was dead.

But unlike all the other stories, death didn’t prevent the happy ending for Jesus, or for us.  On the third day, Jesus rose triumphantly from the dead.  He showed Himself to the man and women who had been following Him, and then to hundreds of others.  Jesus has conquered sin, death, and hell.
This isn’t just a happy ending for Jesus, but for us, too, since all who trust in Him will also rise with Him at the last day.  He has given us the victory through His perfect life, and His sacrifice.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!       
JESUS IS RISEN!