He Has Risen

April 1, 2018 Background Scripture: Luke 24:1 – 35 Lesson Passage: Luke 24:1 – 12, 30 – 35 “Good News from the Graveyard” is how I heard one preacher eloquently expound on the subject of Resurrection Sunday. There is such a contrast between the thought of “good news” and “graveyard” that any presentation involving both is bound to pique one’s curiosity. There is no wonder at the uproar caused among the disciples of Jesus by the report of a group of women that they were told that Jesus had been raised from the dead. And this being the third day of grieving for the disciples of Jesus likely made the news sound even more incredulous. The disciples had come to accept that Jesus had the power to raise the dead. They had witnessed it at least three times: the widow’s son in Nain, Jairus’ daughter, and the most incredible of all, Lazarus of Bethany. But with Jesus now dead, who has the power to raise him up again? The death of Jesus, supposedly, was going to be the end of all of the miracles that were upsetting the leaders in Israel. If Jesus is put to death, then he can work no more miracles and everything in Judea would return to “normal”. At least, that was the thinking of the rulers in Israel. Regardless of Jesus’ statements concerning his death, the disciples could only draw sorrow from those statements. Now, he was dead as of two days ago, on Friday. There was no more anticipation of miracles. After a little while, they would all go back to their “normal” day-to-day activities like it was before they met the carpenter’s son from Nazareth. They thought he would fight for his life and they were prepared to join in. However, he surrendered without so much as an attempt to fight or flee. He even stopped Peter from engaging the mob in a life or death battle. He just gave up. There was nothing else to fight about and nothing else to look forward to. A group of women decided to show their final respects by anointing Jesus’ body with spices as soon as the Sabbath was over—seeing that the crucifixion happened so quickly that it was at the beginning of the Sabbath and there was no time to do what was proper at that time. The women were astonished to discover that the tomb was no longer secured, and the body of Jesus was missing. To add to their confusion, two men in shining garments appeared and caused fear to fall upon them. They submitted to them by bowing their faces to the ground, hoping to receive mercy. Rather than mercy, they received an unexpected question that was followed by an announcement: “Why are you looking for someone who is alive in a place designated for dead people? Jesus is not dead; he is alive! He told you this would happen when he was with you before he was arrested.” With these sketchy details, the women went to find the eleven disciples and tell them what had happened to them. They found the eleven gathered together and still grieving Jesus’ death. They told them what had happened. The eleven found it easier to dismiss the women’s story as a fantasy they had concocted rather than accept what they could not bring themselves to fathom. Peter and John went to investigate it for themselves. It was true! There was no explanation that seemed plausible except Jesus’ testimony before he was crucified. Jesus had said that he would be crucified and die and on the third day rise again. They heard him say it, but once he was dead, how could that be? How does it feel to be confused and overcome with happiness? How do you go from grieving to overwhelming joy? One sure way to do it is to accept the good news: He is risen! Robert C. Hudson March 7, 2017