It was the most shocking news of all time. No newspaper headline could possibly have been bold enough to carry the full weight of the news. To this day nothing has surpassed these electrifying headlines: JESUS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
The biblical record of this extraordinary event is somewhat frenetic and even a little confusing. And yet this punctuates the shock and awe experienced by those completely unprepared for the seemingly impossible.
In John's account it begins with the report of of a disturbed gravesite ( John 20:1 ). The descriptive terms used for the activity that follows is especially revealing: "So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved ... So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first" ( John 20:2-4 )
Time and familiarity have a way of removing the utter shock and frantic activity associated with key unexpected events. Such is the case with contemporary momentous events, such as the assassination of President Kennedy and the attempted assassination of President Reagan, or the Challenger and Columbia disasters. As these events recede into history so does memory of the hectic activity surrounding them.
The events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus potentially lose their impact for us as well. The shocking and unexpected has become part of Christian routine and ritual. Who goes to church on Resurrection morning expecting to hear that Jesus is still in the tomb? It's almost like an annual ritual of watching the movie, "Titanic" - is anyone surprised to find that in the end the ship sinks?
The relevance of the resurrection of Jesus is the contemporary shock and awe. It is the unexpected activity and work of the resurrected Jesus today. It's like Pentecost - no one expected the dramatic and life-changing outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Faith is the vehicle for the unexpected. Hebrews 11 supplies us with ample evidence. Resolute faith breathes life into mundane existence and anticipates life-changing encounters and activities through the risen Christ. It anticipates the conversion of the most hardened sinner ... help in helpless situations ... victory in the face of defeat ... the triumph of truth over the lies of the enemy.
The resurrection of Jesus is the realm of the unexpected. May the risen Christ surprise and overwhelm you today with His presence and activity.
Steve
The biblical record of this extraordinary event is somewhat frenetic and even a little confusing. And yet this punctuates the shock and awe experienced by those completely unprepared for the seemingly impossible.
In John's account it begins with the report of of a disturbed gravesite ( John 20:1 ). The descriptive terms used for the activity that follows is especially revealing: "So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved ... So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first" ( John 20:2-4 )
Time and familiarity have a way of removing the utter shock and frantic activity associated with key unexpected events. Such is the case with contemporary momentous events, such as the assassination of President Kennedy and the attempted assassination of President Reagan, or the Challenger and Columbia disasters. As these events recede into history so does memory of the hectic activity surrounding them.
The events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus potentially lose their impact for us as well. The shocking and unexpected has become part of Christian routine and ritual. Who goes to church on Resurrection morning expecting to hear that Jesus is still in the tomb? It's almost like an annual ritual of watching the movie, "Titanic" - is anyone surprised to find that in the end the ship sinks?
The relevance of the resurrection of Jesus is the contemporary shock and awe. It is the unexpected activity and work of the resurrected Jesus today. It's like Pentecost - no one expected the dramatic and life-changing outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Faith is the vehicle for the unexpected. Hebrews 11 supplies us with ample evidence. Resolute faith breathes life into mundane existence and anticipates life-changing encounters and activities through the risen Christ. It anticipates the conversion of the most hardened sinner ... help in helpless situations ... victory in the face of defeat ... the triumph of truth over the lies of the enemy.
The resurrection of Jesus is the realm of the unexpected. May the risen Christ surprise and overwhelm you today with His presence and activity.
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:07 AM
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