A trilogy of pirate movies captured the imagination of America over the last few years. I've seen a few kids swashbuckle around pretending to be Captain Jack Sparrow or Will Turner as they battle their foes on the high seas.

But the news has recently returned us to the reality of modern day pirates who still try to make waves on the water. U.S. snipers killed three pirates in order to free a ship captain on Sunday. The pirates have escalated their activity to try to show they own the waters. The latest headline says that the French Navy has captured 11 suspected pirates.  We'll keep an eye on what's happening, and pray to God for safe seas.

It's hard to imagine someone trying to hijack ships like that. But can you imagine anyone trying to hijack Easter?

It's been tried, you know. Shortly after Christ's death, his enemies feared that his disciples would try to steal the body and pass it off as a resurrection. So they pressured Pilate to post a guard to keep them away. It didn't work. Christ rose from the dead, and no detachment of soldiers could have ever held him.

But then his enemies wouldn't stop there. When the soldier reported about the earthquake and the angel, they were paid to tell lies about what had happened. Though we may not call them pirates, they tried to hijack Easter, stealing it from us, and leaving us thinking that we had lost.

We did not loose. Christ won the victory for us. And no pirates, past or present can ever take it away from us.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Pastor Jansen