Photo and Commentary (c)2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, April 5, 2026
I think about it every year about this time. It was a routine trip to our neighborhood drugstore, until I saw a large banner hanging from the ceiling. In colorful letters it exclaimed, “HE’S ALMOST HERE!”
My heart leaped up in response! For a couple of weeks I’d been immersed in the gospel writers’ accounts of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, following Him from the Garden of Gethsemane where He anguished in prayer, to the long night of illegal trials and torture, to the heartbreak of the cross.
Two wealthy men stepped forward to provide Him an honorable burial, and He rested on the Sabbath day in the sleep of death. Not remembering what He had repeatedly told them would happen (especially the part of “and on the third day I will rise again”) the hopes of His disciples and other followers died with Him.
Women were last at the cross, and first at the tomb. At first light, on the first day of the week, they were the first to encounter the empty tomb. The waiting angel greeted them with these wonderful words (and can you imagine being the one to share this news?!):
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’” (Matthew 28:5-7 NIV)
For forty days Jesus lingered on this earth. He had won the victory, but He had follow-up work to do. He needed to reassure the disciples, and especially Peter, that He still loved them and that they were fully forgiven for deserting Him when He needed them most. He told them He was turning the mission over to them; He was trusting them to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 NKJV)
He told them He would come again . . .
And since I’d been immersed in this Story, preparing to share in Easter celebration, my heart leaped up in that drugstore, where I’d stopped in wonderment on my way to the pharmacy at the back of the store.
“HE’S ALMOST HERE!”
I resumed walking toward the banner, only to discover when I got close enough, a big picture of the Easter bunny, and a display of Easter candy.
That was an almost Alleluia. Turned out not to be a “praise ye the Lord.” More of a celebration of chocolate and jelly beans.
And yet that big banner made me smile, and does so now, because it reminds me of the truth, Jesus is coming again! You could say the drugstore display had “hoppy news” (pun intended) but the gospel has happy news, the happiest news of all:
Jesus died, rose again, and is coming again! Meanwhile, we have inherited the mission. We have the privilege of carrying the good news of the gospel everywhere we go, fueled by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
So on this celebration day, and every day of our lives, we are invited to sing praises to our Risen Saviour, our Redeemer, our Coming King. Not an almost Alleluia, but a full-throated “praise ye the Lord”!