Easter Journey to re-create Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

BURNET — Each Christmas, people from across the Highland Lakes and beyond make a trip to Burnet for the re-creation of Jesus’ birth during Main Street Bethlehem. This year, First Baptist Church of Burnet is hoping folks will return — but for Easter.

On April 3 and 5, the church is inviting people to participate in the Easter Journey, which brings Jesus’ death and resurrection to life. Like Main Street Bethlehem does for his birth, church members and volunteers are working to dramatize Good Friday and Easter.

The program takes place at the Main Street Bethlehem grounds at 108 S. Vanderveer. The Good Friday program is 7-9 p.m. April 3, while the Easter Sunday program is 7:30-10:30 a.m. April 5. Both walks are weather permitting. As with Main Street Bethlehem, admission is free. All organizers ask is that people come with open hearts.

For many years, Main Street Bethlehem has opened many hearts to God’s message and reaffirmed it for others.

Organizers hope the Easter Journey has the same effect, though they know it’s not in their hands.

“The Holy Spirit is in charge of this, and he changes lives,” said Leslie Walzel of First Baptist Church of Burnet. “People encounter God when they step on that property.”

Re-creating the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection with actors, realistic settings and drama can be more moving than when it is read or even told.

“It makes it a little more real when you experience it like this,” Walzel added. “It’s so authentic over there in the way it’s done — it really makes an impact.”

But there is a difference. While people can take their time making their way through Main Street Bethlehem, the Easter Journey is a guided walk on Good Friday.

“It’s not like Bethlehem, where you can stay for an hour,” Walzel said. “On Good Friday, groups will go through and stop at four different dramatizations for three to four minutes.”

Church officials are also cautioning parents about bringing younger children to the Good Friday event because of the graphic portrayal of the crucifixion. Walzel explained Jesus is hanging on the cross when people arrive at the station, but it might be a little too much for children.

“However, we are encouraging parents to bring their children on Easter morning,” she said.

During the Easter morning event, people may walk through on their own — quietly — as they take in the empty streets. Then, they’ll arrive at Jesus’ tomb.

But he won’t be there.

“There will be an angel there, but the tomb will be empty,” Walzel said.

While the April 5 program is on Easter Sunday, church officials don’t want people to substitute it for their Easter morning church service. Instead, since the Easter morning journey should only take 10-20 minutes, they are encouraging visitors to attend the First Baptist Church service after the unguided walk.

Though Main Street Bethlehem has become a Christmas staple, Walzel said as this is the first year for the Easter Journey, the church and volunteers are still developing the program.

“It’s the first time we’ve done this, so we’re not exactly sure how it will go,” she said. “But we know the Holy Spirit will move people.”

Go to www.fbcburnet.org for more information.

daniel@thepicayune.com