I’m probably more excited than I should be that Easter Sunday falls on April Fool’s Day this year. The last time it happened was in 1956, before I was even born.
No one is quite certain about the origin of April Fool’s Day. However, there’s an old Christian tradition of people playing pranks and practical jokes on each other during the Easter season. They did so because they knew that at the very moment the devil thought he had defeated God’s plans on Good Friday, Easter came along with the ultimate practical joke.
In my office, I have a single picture of Jesus hanging on my wall that I’ve had forever. It watches over me every week as I write my sermons. It’s a picture of Jesus laughing – with his head tipped back and obviously laughing out loud.
So much of life is serious and solemn. So much of what we associate with following Jesus is, too. But at the heart of our faith is the joyful surprise of resurrection and new life. More than anything, that is who we are! So, come and join us this Easter as Jesus has the last laugh – and we join him in the celebration!