“BELIEVING IN EASTER”

By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.

    There was once a Christian named Mary who was the patient of a fine Christian doctor. The doctor was a gentle doctor who loved his patients and saw them as people. His favorite patient was Mary Brown. One day he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Mary Brown. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Mary. She was earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. The doctor knew why Mary was there and what she was doing (witnessing). You see, Mary had a habit of introducing herself in this way: ”Hello, my name is Mary Brown. Do you believe in Easter?” Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.
    As the doctor entered his office and there he saw his head nurse. She had first met Mary when she was taking her blood pressure. Mary began by saying, “My name is Mary Brown. Do you believe in Easter?” She said, “Why yes I do.” Mary said, “Well, what do you believe about Easter?” The nurse said, “Well, it's all about egg hunts, baskets, sunrise church services, and new dresses and hats”. Well Mary kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and taught her about Jesus and His plan of salvation and led her to accept Him as her Lord.
    The doctor said to his nurse, “Don't call Mary into the office quite yet. I believe there is an important teaching (witnessing) in progress.” After being called back in the doctor's office, Mary sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, “Doctor, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible and praying?” The doctor replied by saying , “I have a heavy heart because your lab report came back and it says you have a disease which is not curable and you're not going to live very long”.
Mary said, “Why doctor, shame on you. Why are you so sad? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my departed brethren. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my good news!”
    A few weeks later Mary was sent to the hospital, as she was coming closer to “going Home” (heaven). She asked her doctor if he would make sure that they put women in her room who need to know about Easter. Her wish was fulfilled and there were many who heard the story of Easter. Due to Mary being a patient many (patients, staff, visitors, etc.) heard the story of Easter. Many were saved due to Mary’s witnessing.

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However, there was one nurse who wanted nothing to do with Mary. She had been married several times, she was hard-hearted, bitter about life, cold-spirited, and did everything by the book. Well, one morning she was giving Mary a shot. Mary had a big smile on her face and said, “God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you to become a Christian.” The nurse said, “Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work. I'm not interested.” Mary said, “Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home (heaven) until you come into His family.” The nurse said, “Then you will never die because that will never happen.” Every day the nurse would walk into Mary’s room and hear, "God loves you and I love you too, and I'm praying for you.” One day the nurse said she was literally drawn to Mary's room like a magnet would draw steel. She sat down on the bed and said, “I want what you have, will you help me to obtain it?” It was here that this nearly dead witness for Jesus told the nurse the plan of salvation from God’s book (Bible) and she responded to the Lord’s call and was saved.
    On Easter morning one of the nurses who Mary had led to the Lord entered Mary’s room and as she placed her fingers on Mary’s wrist to take her pulse - she discovered that Mary had passed on into eternity. Mary’s Bible was opened and her right index finger was on John 14:2,3 “In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
    The nurse took one look at Mary’s dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, “Happy Easter, Mary - Happy Easter!” Well, the nurse left Mary’s body and walked out of the room, and over to the Nurses’ Station’s table where two student nurses were sitting. The first words out of her mouth were, “Do you believe in Easter?”

    God is in need of many more “Marys” in our world. Will we answer the call to be a “Mary”? If we have more “Marys” the world would be a better place to live. Now, the Bible’s plan of salvation is very plain and teaches that one must:

1) Believe In Jesus As Savior (Acts 16:31)
2) Repent Of Sins (Acts 17:30)
3) Confess Christ Audibly (Acts 8:37)
4) Be Baptized In Water (Acts 2:38)
5) Live A Christian Life (Acts 14:22)

KYOWVA Evangelistic Association * 1541 S. 7th St. * Ironton, OH 45638