One
article I read about the resurrection this week is headed: If It's Not Hard to Believe, You're Probably
Not Paying Attention!. (1)
Most of us have heard the resurrection stories so
many times they all merge together. This year we have heard from the gospel
according to Luke. Luke who begins the gospel with Elizabeth and Zechariah and
the birth of John; Joseph and Mary and
the birth of Jesus, the angels appearing to the shepherds, telling the good
news of the birth of the saviour. And on the day of his blessing in the temple
and the words of Simeon and Anna.
In the part of the story we heard today, more women
and angels - the women make sure they know where the tomb is so they can go
back after the Sabbath and anoint the body according to their traditions. Notice that Luke names 3 women and adds as
well as the others, so at least 5, maybe more.
Luke is a great storyteller, in this passage the thing that stood out for me is the action and emotion.
- they were perplexed at the
empty tomb
- they were terrified when the
angels suddenly appeared
- they remembered his words
- returning from the tomb
- these words seemed to them an
idle tale
- Peter got up and ran to the
tomb; stooping and looking in
- Amazed
This could make a great thriller – who stole the
body, the guards? The religious leaders? Did Pilate change his mind and put it
back up to decay as was normal? Then the appearance of angels, and the
disbelieving disciples and Peter’s amazement. Then to find out the body hasn’t
been stolen, Jesus is alive?
If you read further in chapter 24, there is
conversation and meal with Jesus.
If It's Not Hard to Believe, You're Probably Not
Paying Attention!.
I
wonder what Easter means for us today, a long weekend, chocolate, the Easter
show.
I
sometimes wonder if the gospels and in particular the story of resurrection is
so amazing that we don’t think too much about it, because if we did it would
create too many questions for us.
Between
the gospel records we have Jesus appearing behind locked doors, so maybe a
ghost but then Jesus eats in other stories, so not a ghost; in some of the
resurrection appearances people recognise him instantly, others do not.
I
have no idea about the nature of the resurrection body, I don’t know how it was
done; would I have remembered Jesus words on that Sunday morning if I had been
one of the women, I doubt it, overwhelmed by grief, scared of the guards
reaction, and all too aware that dead means dead.
Yet
I know that the resurrection is real, not because I can explain it, not because
I understand it, but because of the new life I have been offered.
Why
do I believe, in Jesus, in Resurrection, in salvation? I believe because of my
experience, because of times when the presence of God is all that kept me
breathing; because of times when I have
been aware of something happening in my life, of a warmth, a glow, a voice. I
don’t understand any of these things, but they happened to me, and still do;
and the Christian gospel is the what makes sense of those experiences.
Believing
is one thing, but the call of Jesus is not to believe, but to follow. Not just
about what is in our head, or even our heart, but our hands, our voice, our
life.
If It's Not Hard to Believe, You're Probably Not
Paying Attention!.
I
wonder if we want the Gospel to be easy, to be about comfort and forgiveness,
to be about God and me. But the Gospel isn’t just about God and me, sure there
is the personal relationship that we have through the life, death and resurrection
of Jesus; but there is more to it than that. I wonder if we want the gospel to be personal
and warm and easy, so that we don’t struggle with what the gospel asks of us.
Believing
in the resurrection means not only saying yes to Jesus, but also saying no to
those things that destroy life. It means committing ourselves to living in ways
that are sustainable for all people, not just ourselves. It means opening our lives to the new life we
are offered, and living that out every day.
Jesus,
all through Luke’s gospel is breaking down barriers, against women, gentiles
and anyone considered to be a sinner. Believing in resurrection means living
out that inclusion, welcome and respect for all people.
In
Resurrection God is reconciling the whole of creation, sure we know it isn’t
completed yet. but we also play our part in the reconciliation of all things,
working as part of the new order of resurrection, not the old order of
judgement and selfishness.
If It's Not Hard to Believe, You're Probably Not
Paying Attention!.
Poem by Ann Siddall (2)
For those who first went out
into the early dawn, when the sky was
grey,taking spices to the tomb,
there was terror, and surprise.
.......
What
difference does resurrection make in your life?
(1) an article by David Lose
Lovely reflection! Thank you for the life giving words.
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