Resurrection, Happy Ending and Happy Beginnings

(John 20:19-23) April 18, 2025 | Hodgdon UMC <A Near-Death Experience> At his church’s Easter pageant, five-year-old Billy was supposed to recite Luke 24:6: “He is not here, he is risen.” He had practiced several times, but when he stood before the church, he froze. The director leaned over and whispered the verse in his ear. Billy smiled, grabbed the microphone, and confidently proclaimed, “He’s not here. He’s in prison!” Thankfully, all our children did a great job during our Easter pageant. But you know, for many young children—or—even those who haven't grown up in church—“He is risen” is a totally unfamiliar phrase, and hard to believe. Honestly, “He is in prison” might be something they’ve heard more often. After our Easter play, one child saw the risen Jesus and asked, “Jesus, how can someone die and then come back to life so quickly?” That’s a fair question. “He is risen”—it’s something ...