Wheeeeeeere is Jesus? “He is not here, he has been raised. Go tell his disciples and Peter to meet him in Galilee, there you will see him.” They fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them. Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome were stunned! I think I would be stunned too in their emotional roller coaster ride of life, death, and life. As the story unfolds, they did tell the disciples and Peter, and they did meet Jesus in Galilee.
What I like about the story is that Jesus is not boastful. He is not walking around appearing and disappearing to those he knew. Even with all the gospel accounts, there are very few post-resurrection appearances. We all know history would have done a better job of recording the resurrection if Jesus had more witnesses. What if Jesus would have appeared to Pilate or Herod? Or maybe, just think of what kind of in-your-face message Jesus could have presented to good old Caiaphas, “So much for your ‘permanent solution’ to your problem….” I could think of a hundred great appearances Jesus could have made which would have projected the new church into the next millennium.
But Jesus did not do that. He met with his disciples and a few others and flew off to heaven without too much fan-fare.
Jesus was humble in life and his character did not change even after the resurrection. He had done what he had come to do. He had been such an influence that he made a difference. He left it up to the apostles and Peter (with the Holy Spirit) to carry the message forward. Today, 2,000 or so years later, we celebrate the victory won by Jesus. We celebrate that Jesus gives us hope that just like him, this earthly life doesn’t hold us, we will rise also.
Today, this resurrection seals Jesus’ credibility. It seals his gift to us in dying on the cross and opening a new relationship with God. Today, we celebrate this new day in Christ Jesus where we all are given hope in new life in him. Alleluia! Jesus has risen!
Pastor Gerry