Resurrection. We can use that word so casually, even flippantly. But isn’t Jesus having conquered death one of the most startling events in history? The empty tomb is big news, more than, “You can’t keep a good man down” news. It’s startling, astounding, staggering, eye rubbing, head scratching, jaw dropping news.
From the Gospel accounts, it appears that the disciples were as surprised by the resurrection as they were by Jesus’ execution. It would be especially difficult to keep believing after the events of Friday and Saturday. They certainly weren’t trending toward a big faith breakthrough. Who can blame them though for at least a little unbelief? The angel’s question says it all, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5) In other words, “You guys are looking in the wrong place, or at least looking wrongly in the right place.” In John’s gospel we read that while they stood viewing the empty tomb, they still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. (John 20:9)
To be sure, the resurrection is unfathomable. Even if you believe, it’s still hard to swallow – like a too-big-bite of a peanut butter sandwich. It goes down, but it hurts. Sunday changed everything. Sunday changed everybody. Nothing has been the same since.
On Easter Sunday we introduce the last of the Three Days of Easter series. Friday was tragic, with judgments unjust, sights unseemly, death untimely. Saturday was hopelessly long, silent, uncertain, and heavy with doubt. But resurrection Sunday, beyond belief! Sunday is not too good to be true, it’s too good not to be true. We’ve grown so familiar with Easter that it’s hard to truly identify with what the disciples’ first witness of the event was like. Perhaps we’ve all grown a little jaded by our familiarity with this miracle of miracles. May your Sunday be filled with wonder, awe, and the startling, bone jarring reality of how different life is because of it. Sunday is truly the best day ever.
Something to think about.
Britt
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