The Easter Challenge

Written by Katrina Cassell

This article is courtesy of Essential Connection Magazine.

Jason, our youth group president, suggested we give up our “worldly pleasures” the week before Easter to help us focus on the true meaning of the holiday.

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 “No way!” I exclaimed.

“Just for a week, Tiff,” said my best friend, Gina. “We have to all do it or it won’t work.”

“Isn’t it enough that we are singing at the sunrise service?” I replied. “I’ll have to get up at 4 a.m. just to get my hair ready.” 

“If you’d do this, you won’t have to worry about your hair all week. Think of all the time you’ll save not using a curling iron,” Jason said.

“And we can donate all the money we save not eating out or going to movies to the Easter missions offering,” Gina said.   

I groaned but agreed. What else could I do? Good-bye cell phone; good-bye DVD player.

Day 1, Palm Sunday

My alarm went off at 6 a.m. I borrowed my mom’s old rollers and rolled my hair. I’m glad no one was up to see me!

I decided I’d use the extra time I had to read the Easter story. In fact, maybe I’d read the Gospel of John. I was reading about Nicodemus when it was time for church. I bet Nicodemus was really confused when Jesus told him he had to be born again. I can imagine the kids at school if I told them that. They’d laugh in my face. I wonder if that’s why I’ve never even asked anyone to church.   

Jason was waiting for me at church. “So, how’d you do?” he asked.

“OK, but I have a whole pile of DVDs to return.” 

“Instead of renting more, set that money aside for the Easter offering,” Jason said. “And since we won’t be going off campus for lunch this week, do you want to pack lunches?”

I groaned. “I haven’t had PB&J since I was 10! Yuck!” 

Jason just laughed.

Day 2

Got up too late to read from John. I pulled back my hair and packed my lunch. The phone rang.

“Hi,” Gina’s voice greeted me. “Meet you at the bus stop in two minutes.”  

“I was going to pick you up like I always do.”

“Sorry. No car this week.”   

I groaned, dropped the phone and ran for the bus stop.

“What’s this? Miss Perfect riding the bus?” taunted a voice.   

“Shut up, Erica,” I snarled.   

“Hey, aren’t you in Gina’s youth group?” asked another girl. “She told me you were all giving up luxuries this week to help you remember what Jesus gave up when He came to earth.”   

“What? Tiffany do without her luxuries? No cell phone or laptop computer?”

Erica mocked. I fumed. Gina pulled me away.  

“Do you hear her?” I demanded.   

“Yes, and everyone else heard what Tonya said about doing it for Jesus. Let it drop, OK?”   

I let it drop, but I was in a bad mood all day. It was night when I continued reading in John. I read about Jesus reaching out to people like the woman at the well and wondered how He would reach out to people like Erica. She made me sound like a spoiled snob.   

I crammed $20 in my offering envelope—$5 from lunch today and my $15 gas allowance—and went to bed.

Day 3

I read my Bible first thing this morning. When I got to the bus stop, Gina was telling Tonya about the change Jesus makes in peoples’ lives. That’s what I’d been reading about in John.

“I read in John that Jesus told people He was the Bread of life,” I said hesitantly. “Other things don’t satisfy us, but He does. He died for us and rose again for us.”   

I couldn’t believe I’d said that. It was the first time I’d ever mentioned Jesus to anyone.   

What’s really been hard this week is writing my homework out by hand. I can do it twice as fast on my computer. I was going to cheat tonight, but when my word processing program came up I had this guilty feeling! What’s happening to me? Last week I watched movies every night while talking on the phone. This week I’m wearing my hair in a ponytail and eating PB&J! And I’m reading my Bible every day.

Day 4

I was so bored today that I went to church. It’s called “Discipleship Night,” but I’ve never really wanted to go find out what it was. Jason and Gina and a couple other teens were there.  

“Where are all the others?” I asked.  

“This is more than usually comes on Wednesday night,” Jason said.   

“Really?” I asked. “I thought it would be fuller.”

“No, people are too busy to come,” Gina said. “You’ve always been too busy.”

“Without television or CDs, what else is there to do?” I admitted. “You know, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for this challenge we’re doing.”

I was surprised at how interesting the youth Bible study was. It was about living your faith every day. Some of it even sounded like the things we were doing this week, like thinking about Jesus and sharing our faith.   

I think I’ll go again.

Day 5

Why did I ever think I could do this? I can’t go another day without my stuff—especially my computer! We have an essay due tomorrow, and I had to write it out by hand.

My Bible reading was about Jesus being the Vine and us being the branches. I remembered hearing that passage read at my grandpa’s funeral. The pastor talked about how my grandpa’s life was full of Christian fruit. I get it now. Grandpa spent so much time reading the Bible, praying, and doing good for others that Christ showed in his life. It makes me feel bad for complaining about giving up my things for a week. I mean, Jesus gave up a lot to come to earth. People made fun of Him, and He put up with it even though He was God.   

Wow.

Day 6

Today my faith was put to the test when I turned in my essay. 

“Tiffany, is there a reason you didn’t type this?” Mr. Nixon asked.

“It had to be typed?” I asked.   

“It’s been a requirement all year. Did you crash your computer?”  

“No,” I stammered. “Can I turn it in Monday?”   

“It’s due today,” he said.

“Well,” I said with a sigh, “our church youth group came up with this idea . . .”

“That you’d do homework incorrectly?”  

Some kids snickered. I didn’t know if I could finish what I needed to say, but I knew I had to.   

“No. It’s about Easter. Jesus gave up everything to become a man and live down here. Then He died—not because of His own sins but because of ours. Then He rose again. Our youth group decided we would give up stuff like television and eating out for a week to help us think about Jesus’ sacrifice. Computers were part of it.”

“That’s the most illogical thing I’ve ever heard,” Mr. Nixon said. “You may turn in your paper Monday, but your grade will be reduced by one full letter grade.”   
I should have felt awful, but I didn’t. I had stood up for my beliefs in front of the class!

Word spread fast and kids I didn’t even know told me that what I did took guts. Several asked about our youth group. I invited everyone to our sunrise service on Easter.

My Bible reading was about Jesus before Pilate. I’m glad I shared my beliefs at school today. A week ago, I would have cringed at the thought.

Day 7

This is it—the last day of our challenge. The youth group mowed the church lawn for the outdoor service tomorrow. We practiced our songs, and Pastor James asked some of us to give testimonies about how this week has changed us. He asked me to be one of them. You know, I have changed. I worried less about keeping up an appearance and about having the latest stuff.

I can’t say I won’t ever splurge on something new, but I will think more about what’s really important. I don’t really need to carry a cell phone or laptop to school, but I will start taking my Bible. I’ve finished the book of John and plan to keep reading. 

Gotta go. I need to write out my testimony for the sunrise service—by hand.

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