Today’s scripture: Matthew 28:1-15 (NRSV) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Tyler Connoley):
“I’m a twenty-first century person,” she said. “I’m scientifically minded, and I don’t know what I think about the Resurrection. What do you have to say to someone like me?” As an ordained minister and an out Christian, I get questions like this all the time. I’m sure you do too. The Resurrection is a stumbling block to many people, and we have a tendency to want to give them easy (or at least concrete) answers. But I don’t think we need to.
Fact is, I don’t know exactly what happened after Jesus died. I don’t know if God resurrected his body, if he was an ethereal ghost, or how he interacted with his disciples. I do know that something amazing happened, which transformed the lives of the disciples.
After the public and horrific execution of their teacher, the disciples were understandably terrified. They scattered. They huddled in rooms together, afraid that they would suffer the same fate as Jesus. During that time, the young religious movement we call Christianity was dead. The Christian Church had foundered before it could even get started.
Then, something miraculous happened! Women began telling stories of having seen Jesus. Other disciples reported having lunch with him. Others saw him. Then others.
Soon, the disciples were boldly preaching a new Gospel (meaning good news) of radical trust in God. They were absolutely certain that even when the world did something as terrible as kill someone by crucifixion, God could make good out of it. God could be trusted. Despite bitter persecution — and accusations that they were liars — the disciples continued to spread the news that Jesus was alive. None of them ever recanted this story, and many of them were in fact executed, just like Jesus, for refusing to back down from their story of God’s miraculous power and trustworthiness.
Since then, billions of people have had their lives resurrected by the same God who preformed a miracle after Jesus’ death. The power of the Resurrection is alive today in the lives of people throughout the world, and I have witnessed it first hand. I have seen drug addicts lost to the world, who have been brought back by the power of trusting in the God Jesus called Father. I have seen relationships, once thought hopeless, resurrected by the power of God’s grace. I have seen churches stand up against tyranny, and win by the power of their faith.
Thought for the day: Ask me if I believe in the Resurrection, and I will tell you the truth. Whatever the facts of what happened after the Crucifixion, the Resurrection was real.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.