Paul Harvey once shared this story (slightly adapted):

He was 9 – in a Sunday school class of 8-year-olds.

The third graders did not welcome Philip to their group. Not just because he was older. He was "different." He suffered from Down's syndrome and its obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses.

One Sunday the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle - the kind in which some ladies' pantyhose are packaged.

The Sunday school teacher gave one of these plastic eggs to each child.

On that beautiful spring day each child was to go outdoors and discover for himself some symbol of "new life" and place that symbolic seed or leaf or whatever inside his egg.

They would then open their eggs one by one, and each youngster would explain how his find was a symbol of "new life."

So, the youngsters gathered ‘round at the appointed time and put their eggs on a table, and the teacher began to open them.

One child had found a flower. All the children "oohed" and "aahed" at the lovely symbol of new life. In another was a butterfly. "Beautiful," the girls said.

The teacher opened the last one, and there was nothing inside.

"That's not fair," someone said. "That's stupid," said another.

Teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Philip. Looking up he said, "It's mine. I did do it. It's empty. I have new life because the tomb is empty."

The class fell silent.

From that day on Philip became part of the group. They welcomed him. Whatever had made him different was never mentioned again.

Philip's family had known he would not live a long life, just too many things wrong with the tiny body. That summer, overcome with infection, Philip died.

On the day of his funeral nine 8-year-old boys and girls confronted the reality of death and marched up to the casket - not with flowers. Nine children with their Sunday school teacher placed on the casket of their friend their gift of love - an empty egg. *

Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  He was buried.  Early one Sunday morning, some women came to His tomb and found it empty.

What does that empty tomb mean for us today?

It means that Jesus defeated sin and death.  He made our reconciliation with God possible.  Just as the tomb was opened, Jesus opened up the way to God.

It means that death does not have the final word.  Just as Jesus’ “grave” was opened, all graves will open when He comes again (John 5:28-29).

It means that we have hope beyond this life.  We have a “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3-4) because our Savior lives!

God will save from sin and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

On the third day after Jesus’ death on the cross, His tomb was found empty.  It was good news then; it is good news now and for eternity for those who will embrace it and follow Jesus.

-- David A. Sargent

* From Stories for the Heart compiled by Alice Gray (Portland: Multnomah, 1996), p. 15 as shared in https://bible.org/illustration/day-philip-joined-group.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org