Something New

Text: Luke 24:1-12

Yes, it was unexpected. Yes, it was unbelievable. Yes, it took a lot of convincing before those who had not seen the events unfolding. That's because nothing like it had occurred before; so we read, in v.11, "but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn't believe it." (NLT)

It's easy for us to overlook this too readily. We tend to think that it was easier for people in the first century to believe a report of the resurrection of Jesus than it is today. Without a doubt, such sentiments exist today, even within the walls of the church--it's just too incredible to be real. No one in their right mind would believe such a thing could actually take place. It's just too unbelievable.

First century people had no more experience with people rising from the dead than does ours. The story was just hard then as it would be now for anyone to believe the gospel accounts. And that's the point. This report of a resurrected Christ was not something which could easily be foisted upon an uncritical crowd. That wouldn't work at all, unless it were true. The reluctance to believe on the part of those closest to Jesus confirms one thing: they had no more expectation that dead people rise than we do.

It is still quite commonplace to come across the occasional skeptic who proclaims that the whole resurrection idea can't be taken very seriously. So the attempts are made to come up with a "better" or more "sophisticated" way of saying that it is only a spiritual sense in which Jesus rose from the dead. But it is only the resurrection which can adequately explain why anyone would want to spread the faith at all.

And because of its truth, the resurrection is what assures us that things buried yesterday are recoverable and usable in the Lord's hands, whether they were things we have done or things other people have done to us. May today be the day of resurrection of new hope in your life in an area that was cluttered with all manor of junk. There will be no better time.

Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed!