Easter Breakfast

Frank and Bea Forest were excited! They spent the first two weeks of December, 1987 getting ready for their daughter Page to come home from college. Page was a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, and their only child. Oklahoma was a long way from California, but they prayed for Page daily, and spoke often by phone. The thought of having her home for the holidays made them sparkle with anticipation as they prepared for her visit.

The great day arrived and Frank and Bea headed for Ontario airport. They laughed as they entered the terminal and realized that they were a whole hour early. They were so excited that they could hardly contain themselves as they waited for her plane.

About thirty minutes before the flight was due in, a voice came over the PA system. “Will persons waiting to meet Continental flight 517 from Denver please report to the information desk.” With hearts sinking, Frank and Bea were directed to a special conference room, along with other concerned parents, spouses, and relatives. A representative from the airline, visible shaken, spoke. “I’m terribly sorry to have to tell you this, but there has been an accident. Flight 517 has crashed on takeoff from the Denver airport.”

Frank and Bea Forest sat there numb with shock. For almost an hour they waited there, listening to sketchy details as they came in, and then official statements. They finally heard the terrible news that all passengers were believed to have perished. There were no survivors. Outside the door, bright lights of news cameras and reporters clamored in the hallway. Frank turned to Bea and said “Let’s get out of here.” They pushed their way tearfully through the crowd, found their car in the parking lot, and drove away.

They said little on the way home. Arriving in their living room, all decorated for the holidays, they didn’t know what to do next, so they just stood there and hugged each other and cried.

They had been home just a few minutes when the phone rang. Frank slowly picked it up. “Hello, Mr. Forest?” a man’s voice said. “I’m John Hastings with Continental Airlines in Denver, Colorado. Your daughter Page missed flight 517. She’s standing right here beside me and she’d like to talk to you.”

That’s a true story. Now let me ask you: How do you think Frank and Bea Forest felt when they heard that their daughter was alive? That’s how Jesus’ disciples must have felt when the news of his resurrection began to spread. He’s alive! He’s alive!

Their joy must have known no bounds. And we can share in that joy this Easter Sunday morning, too.

John 14:19-20 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

The Savior who died on Calvary is the Savior who rose from the dead. The Savior who rose from the dead is the Savior who has come to live in our life. And because He who conquered death now lives in us, we no longer need to fear death. That’s worth celebrating!

Let’s sing “Because He Lives”.