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Christopher Bunny met Jesus on his way to the cross. Want to know what happened?

The Rev. Bruce Jones, pastor of La Plata UMC, can tell you.

He has just written and published a 44-page children’s book, “The Story of Christopher Bunny: A Hare Raising Tale.”

Clergy publish many books, but they’re usually non-fiction and delve into some aspect of theology or social principles. “Christopher Bunny” is no exception. It’s a different viewpoint but as one reads it to his or her adult self, or to the children in your life, the story of God’s caring for the world and humanity’s place in it come to the fore, as does Jesus’ death and resurrection.

It began three years ago. Jones was praying and thinking about a way to tell the Easter story to children in his congregation. He was inspired by his high school daughter’s long-kept rabbit to tell the children of Christ’s resurrection through the bunny’s eyes.

And so, the bunny went to church.

In the story, Christopher Bunny takes on the responsibility for his sister, Christine, who is deaf. She often gets in trouble because she can’t hear the danger around her.

One day, she’s nibbling grass in the path of a procession carrying three crosses to Golgotha. She doesn’t hear the crowd around her and Christopher hops to rescue her. He succeeds, but alas! One of the three cross-bearers trudging on the path smashes Christopher into the ground.

At this point in the story, listeners (or readers) may shedsome tears, so engaging is the story. But there’s more.

Jesus sees the fate of the poor little rabbit, sets his own cross aside and picks up the body and brings him back to life.

“It was almost overwhelming, the reaction to the story,” Jones said. Parents and grandparents asked where he’d gotten the storybook so as to get it for themselves. It was then he decided to pursue publishing, something entirely new for him, to “see where God leads me.”

Part of the charm of the book is the illustrations, done in pastel colors, lending a softness to the story. When Jones had finished writing the text, through research he discovered a network of children’s book illustrators. After many dead-ends, he found Kim Merritt, and later learned she is a United Church of Christ pastor’s wife in New Hampshire.

“It was again a miraculous process,” he said.

In addition to their contract, which covers each page of art, they have a deal that 15 years down the line, after finding out if the book becomes a long-time keeper, they’ll renegotiate their agreement, which covers a percentage of royalties for the artwork. Jones now owns the paintings and has all the originals.

The book is written in simple language, easy enough for second-graders to read themselves.

“It is a unique and heart-warming story,” said a reader. “It is a really sweet story to teach about the power of God and of God’s love.”

The soft-cover book, in 11” x 8.5” format, is available from Amazon.com or from WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan.