Not many people know Jesus kept a diary. Someone showed me an excerpt the other day. Friday: Tough day on the job, been wondering if I’m in the right line of work. Saturday: Feeling under the weather, stayed in. Sunday: Got out and visited with some friends today. They seemed surprised to see me.
Surprised? I’d say. Jesus offered up one surprise after the other. He surprised elites by calling forth followers who were, at best, nobodies. He surprised His lowly followers by reaching out still farther to people they too judged unworthy, like Samaritans and Roman soldiers. The disciples were probably continually surprised at his healings. They seemed pretty surprised in the garden when He was arrested and bound over for trial and certainly surprised at His being executed. It’s not likely any of them planned on him ending his life as a convicted criminal. Why not rise from the dead? But how does that actually sink in? How does anyone make sense of Jesus rising from the dead? How is it still taken seriously?
Something happened 2,000 years ago to bring a disheartened group of people back to life. They said it was seeing Jesus again. As surprising as it may seem, I believe them.
Prayer: Spirit of Life, we rejoice in the surprise that is life with all its beauty and wonder.
Question: Why believe in Resurrection?
April 20, 2104 Gospel John 20:1-9 Easter