Emily often asks me to describe details of Jesus' crucifixion. I only leave out the details that I didn't personally witness, but I don't usually paint a pretty picture since it wasn't the best day on earth...Every time she asks about Jesus' death, I try to be lovingly graphic, but not to the extent of Mel Gibson because, well, geez, she's 4.5, but she knows that He was beaten so badly that people could barely recognize Him. She also knows that He was stripped down to his underwear (you could see the wheels turning in her head this morning when we talked about it, so I said, "Not boxers like daddy and not 'Cars' underwear like Luke...it was more like a wadded up white sheet wrapped around Him to make underwear...) Anyway, she always brings up the fact that He had to carry the very cross He was to be hung on all the way across town after He had been beaten, and she always points out the guy who helped Jesus carry His cross. She thought that was really nice of him, very helpful.

Today she said, "Those bad guys killed Jesus. They had the devil in their hearts."
I said, "Em, they didn't think they were bad guys and they most certainly didn't think they had the devil in their hearts. They thought they were doing everyone a favor."
Em: "Well then, why did they beat up Jesus and nail Him to a cross? He just went around sharing and loving people and even healing them."
Me: "They didn't believe He was Who He said He was. They thought He was a liar. They read the scriptures, but the people thought their King, Messiah would be a royal King that was rich and a bit more socially acceptable than somebody like Jesus."
Em: "Yeah, He was born in a stinky old stable."
Me: "Yep. Sometimes people who are kings and queens are so rich and priviledged and set apart that they think they are better than other people who don't have as much as them. They think more highly of themselves...By Jesus coming as a baby in a stinky old stable, He never got the mindset that He was better than anyone else. He came for everyone."
Em: "Why did they stab Him?"
Me: "Just to be mean."
Em: "Geez."

We then talked about how sad His mom must have been watching everything happen. She said, "Why did she watch?" I said, "Jesus was Mary's son on earth. She loved Him so much and didn't want Him to be alone, just like we never left Noah alone at the hospital. Jesus knew He had to do this hard thing, but His family and friends still stuck by His side."

Anyway, on this anniversary of the reason I live and breathe, I want to wish you all a blessed time of celebrating the fact that even though Christ endured the cross and was buried, death could not keep Him in the grave. The reason we have hope that Noah is at peace in heaven and given the opportunity to come back to see us, he wouldn't, is because we know that Jesus defeated eternal death over 2000 years ago. We are so grateful for the hope set before us...