The Pointe

A pastor was talking to a group of young people about the high cost of dying. “People today waste thousands of
dollars on coffins and monuments,” he went on to say, ”Jesus was so unconcerned by His death that He had to use a
borrowed tomb.”  Leave it to our youth to get to the bottom line and put things in perspective.  A teen-ager raised her
hand and said, “But Jesus only needed it for three days.”  We are about to embark upon the most horrific yet
exciting day in history (His story) that effects everything we are and ever will become - but what’s the pointe?  Care to
share your story?    

Little Philip, born with Down’s syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in Leadership magazine. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully.

The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought Leggs pantyhose containers, the kind that look like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table.

Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh. Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, “That’s stupid. That’s not fair. Somebody didn’t do their assignment.” Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.” “Philip, you don’t ever do things right!” the student retorted. “There’s nothing there!” I did so do it,” Philip insisted. “I did do it. It’s empty. the tomb was empty!” Silence followed. From then on Philip became a full member of the class. 

He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday school teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.

Easter is just around the corner.  A day that represents the greatest event in history.  Come and be a part of NorthPointe’s Easter Celebration, march 23rd at 10am and get an inside look at behind the scene christianity and what it’s all about!