One of the best parts about teaching in a Christian school is that we have chapel every week with our students.  As the head of the middle school, it is my role to speak at middle school chapels or arrange a guest speaker, but on Monday I had the privilege of being the guest speaker at the elementary chapel service.  I did a variety of routines around the Easter theme including closing the service with a series of three illusions that had a communion theme and were built upon the prophesy, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”  They are all performed to “Above All” by Michael W. Smith.

The first illusion was the bleeding rose.  A white rose on a cross is slowly cut apart.  Then, with a deep thrust of the knife, the rose suddenly sprays ‘blood’ out of its center.  “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…”  By Jesus suffering on the cross, I explained, He was punished for our sins so we don’t have to be.

The next effect was one in which I vanished a signed paper with the word ‘peace’ printed on it, then broke a loaf of bread and the paper reappeared from within it. “The chastisement of our peace was upon Him…”  Jesus suffered incredible stress and abuse leading up to and during His crucifixion so that we could have peace of mind.  Faith replaces fear through Jesus’ chastisement.

Finally, I did a basic torn and restored trick with a picture of the silhouette of a man on it.  “By his stripes (whippings on His back and other scars) we are healed.”  I told the kids that not all churches agree on when, how or why God heals here on earth, but we can all agree that in Heaven we will be totally healed in new bodies that will never get sick, sore, tired or old.  This is the message of the resurrection we reflect on each Holy Week and each time we take communion together.  It was a joy to share these lessons with our youngest students at Windham Christian Academy.