Hidden in Plain Sight

Posted by: Chris Lake, On-Air Host | Monday, April 6th, 2026 ( 9:30am)

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.—John 20:14

Every year, we host an Easter egg hunt at the house for the family. What started when the kids were just toddlers continues now into adulthood. In fact, there are now two Easter egg hunts, one for the kids and one for the “kids at heart.”

Some years in West Michigan, the daffodils are blooming. Other years there is still ice and snow on the ground. Either way, the tradition is the same. Plastic eggs filled with jelly beans (my favorite!), chocolate kisses, pennies, maybe a dollar bill in some. The grand prize in our home is a special golden egg for the adult hunt, usually with a bit more than one dollar hidden inside.

But a few years ago, I changed things up.

I sent the adults into the backyard but kept the golden egg in my pocket. They spread out quickly, checking the fence line, under the bushes, in the nooks and crannies of the porch—focused and certain that the prize had to be hidden someplace tough.

After a few minutes, I dropped the golden egg right in the middle of the yard in plain sight. No one saw it.

After a few minutes, my seven-year old grandson Louis couldn’t hold in his excitement. “Guys, guys! The golden egg is right there!” he said pointing to the egg. The hunt now over, we all had a good laugh.

I’ve been thinking about that moment as I celebrate Easter this year. The egg was not hard to find; it was in plain sight. Yet, everyone missed it because they were convinced they knew where it should be.

In John 20, Mary Magdalene stands outside the empty tomb, grieving and crying. Jesus stands right next to her, and she does not recognize him. Mary isn’t distracted or too far away, she just did not expect to see him show up like that.

I wonder how often we do the same thing with Jesus in our lives? How often, in the busyness and routine of our day-to-day do we miss Him? We look for Jesus in the big, life-changing moments. Meanwhile, His presence shows up in the quiet places—not hidden, just unexpected moments of grace and peace, often in plain sight.

This season is stretching me. I’m quickly wrapping up a school year while continuing to walk with my adult children through some really tough situations. I’m feeling the tears and the anxiety in my own life. These are the moments that bring me to my knees in prayer. Yet, Jesus is showing up in meaningful ways through other areas of my life. For example, soon I’ll be watching my students walk across the stage at graduation—some of whom almost dropped out. Through their journeys, I see God’s faithfulness in how they’ve overcome those earlier challenges.

I see Jesus through a recent interaction with my son. He sent me a panicked text in ALL CAPS about his schedule for next semester. But when we talked later, there was a calm steadiness in his voice as he made a decision and took his next steps—revealing evidence of God's continued formation in his life.

And I see Jesus on Wednesday mornings when I sit with a group of men who show up in unexpected ways to study Scripture and pray, reminding me that we can carry each other’s burdens and look to the Lord for hope.

So, this week look closer for the “egg” sitting right in front of you. Chances are, it’s not hidden in some faraway place but right there in plain sight. Because Jesus often shows up where we least think to look. We simply need to slow down, be open, and see how Jesus shows up again and again and again.