“Not Over Yet”

An Easter Story

It was a morning like any other morning except for the commotion in the streets. Crowds lined the dirt-pathed road. Some weeping, others shouting, jeering at the men being led out for execution. The Roman soldiers cleared the way as three men stumbled along carrying a wooden plank on their shoulders.

About now most cats would have run for cover; but from her tree top advantage, a kitty watched. The last man in the group, badly beaten, staggering more than the others, jilted kitty’s balance.

“I know this man. He is kind and good. A man of miracles. Only the dark, cruel heart of a human could order such evil.”

Cutting short the distance on the winding path she scampered directly up the hill. Kitty found the crucifixion site where other soldiers waited with hammers and nails and hardened hearts. They made quick work of it, and soon the wooden crosses stood erect among the cries of pain and pleas for mercy.

At the base of the cross stood Mary,

his mother, and a small group of men and women crying. For three hours she ached for her son. Her grief, her anguish comfortless. Children are supposed to bury their parents; not a parent watch one die. She thought about the life of her son. The announcement from the angel, the birth in a stable, and the last three years as he traveled and preached to the crowds of the Kingdom of God being at hand. Setting himself up as the awaited Messiah. Ominously her brain mulled over the words of Simon who had greeted them so long ago in the temple when she and Joseph had presented their band new baby to the priests.

“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel.” Taking a step closer to Mary, “and a sword will pierce your own soul…” She had held these words in her heart, and now that sword cut a deep wound maybe even beyond repair. (Luke 2:34-35)https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202&version=NIV

At last, his physical pain was over as He breathed his final words, “It is finished.” All hope of Jesus possibly saving himself from the cross vanished, but at least they could torture him no more. Kitty knew she must do something, but what? So, she went to the ankles of Mary and began to rub them with her fur. Looking up to catch Mary’s tear-filled eyes with hers.

“It may be finished, but I don’t think it’s over,” pleaded kitty’s empathy into her heart. Mary knelt to pet the kitty and sobbed. “Another kitty was at my son’s birth. Have you come to see him die?”

A centurion walked towards the cross as Mary and her small group pulled back. Looking up he told the soldiers to take him down for he is dead. He had witnessed many crucifixions so nothing should have surprised him. Yet, something was different about this man that held his attention. Then within minutes a loud cracking noise was heard. The ground began to rumble then break open. Up from the rocky soil, out of opened graves came bodies of saints. As the centurion saw these things, he shakingly said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:53-54)

Now Kitty didn’t wait for more to happen.

This was more than any kitty could bear so she scampered home. Running without stopping until she reached her owner’s small home and darted under the bed. “There you are,” cried the gardener who tended the grounds which happened to be the same place where Joseph of Arimathea had a prearranged burial site. That night Joseph had the body of Jesus brought to his burial cave, prepared it, then required a large stone be rolled in the entrance while Roman soldiers stood guard.

Just when it seemed that all would be normal again, on the third day, another great earthquake shook the ground. This time her curiosity got the best of her, so kitty went out. The gardener had run off, but there on the ground outside the cave, lay the guards. Still, as if they were dead.

Kitty went up to sniff them. They’re alive she decided and climbed over their bodies.

Inside sat an angel with empty grave clothes neatly folded on the ground. Gingerly she approached. “Whom do you seek, Kitty?” the angel did ask. She started to meow, but words came out instead. “The man who was crucified. The one who was buried here.”

“He is risen from the dead.”

“Well, his mother will be very glad, and so will many others.”

As kitty sniffed the grave clothes, she turned towards the angel.

“So, it’s not over yet?”

The angel smiled and said, “The curse of sin is broken. Finished is the separation between God the Father and His creation.”