First Baptist Church of Herndon

Seeing is Believing

Linda Soller | Apr 01, 2013

I saw the Easter Bunny. 

As a child I loved Easter. I loved getting a new dress, wearing my tappy shoes with ruffled socks, some years a hat and gloves were involved - it was wonderful. Then there were the Easter baskets with candy and eggs for hunting and some little gift items.  Often there was a stuffed animal involved, and to this day I am a sucker for a soft stuffed animal. Church was always packed and everyone looked so festive.

On the particular year I saw the Easter Bunny I was so excited that I was finding it hard to sleep. I knew the rule was that I should stay in bed and if I was not asleep I needed to pretend to be asleep. I don’t remember exactly why but on that occasion I got up and looked out my window. There he was. He wasn’t staring in the window; that would have been creepy. The Easter Bunny was in a cart being pulled by a pony. He was on the street in front of my house and there were flowers and lots of Easter Baskets. I was careful not to let him see me. I know he didn’t because he still left me a basket. He was a little bigger than I anticipated. I remember thinking the cart with all the baskets and the big bunny must be pretty heavy for that pony to pull around. Until I saw it for myself I didn’t even know the Easter Bunny traveled around in a cart. That was an eye opening experience and I came away a true believer. You know what they say, “Seeing, is believing.”

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It had been an horrific few days for many in Jerusalem.  Believers watched helpless as Jesus was judged and beaten and crucified. Disciples had betrayed him, denied him, deserted him and were hiding in fear. Rome had washed “its hands” of him and placed his fate in the hands of a mob. Those who passed by him as he hung on the cross did not see your typical criminal – they must have been confused. The sky grew dark.

The faithful had not seen or chosen to believe that this would be his end. It was not what they’d anticipated. Why, just a week before this gentle man had entered the city to cheers and waiving palm branches. What were they to do next? How could they go forward without him to guide them? Had they not learned anything?

They came out of love and devotion to the tomb. They found it empty and were told he had risen, just as promised. This was contrary to everything the women knew from experience and yet when they saw the empty tomb they believed. As his followers encountered the risen Lord their seeing became believing, but not instantly for most. There were doubters, there were travelers, there were the grief stricken, and the fearful.  They all brought their personal baggage to the moment they saw him again.

Daily we bring our baggage to God. We ask things of him and want proof that he is listening. We do things in his name and want to see that our efforts are making a difference. We are a skeptical people who want to see results. For many of us our faith is tempered by our doubts. If only we could see him, then surely we would tell the world.

The Easter morning I proudly told my family that I had seen the Easter Bunny. I am not sure how to describe their expressions, but I am pretty sure they doubted my story. When we see God at work in this world some of us believe, without having to see him in person. When we tell others of our faith and what we know to be true we will face doubters. What we can do is continue to face each day with love and devotion, the same kind of love and devotion that lead the women to the tomb.                              Have a great week :o) Linda