John 11:43-44  Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, comes out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Children acquire likes and dislikes very early in life. Already at the age of three Jacob had some very definite opinions on clothes and shoes. On Easter morning, his mother thought it was a good idea for Jacob to wear his new oxford shoes.

"Today, Jacob, we're going to really dress up because we're going to celebrate Jesus' resurrection," mom said. Jacob ran off to get the shoes he intended wearing, his Nike tennis shoes. "No, Jacob, you're going to wear the special shoes your mom and dad bought you. You're going to wear your new oxfords."

Jacob insisted he would not. His mother insisted he would. Mom won! The oxfords bedecked Jacob's feet for the special resurrection service.

Perhaps, however, Jacob did not have such a bad idea after all. He wanted to wear his Nike tennis shoes. Nike is a Greek word that means "victory." In ancient times, after a victory had been won, the announcement would be made throughout the cities, "Nike! Nike!" It meant a victory had been achieved.

Easter should be a time when the shout of victory is proclaimed with voice, and yes, even with the shoes we wear. Already in the raising of Lazarus, Jesus had given a prelude of what would happen because of His life, death, and resurrection; "'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out" (John 11:43-44). So through His victory from death, from sin, and from the power of the devil.

Nike! Nike!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Rev. Dr. Brent L Parrish