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Full to the Brim – An Expansive Life
Luke 24: 1 -12
There is a saying which people use to help us to be more aware of scams or potentially dodgy offers.
“If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”
This is the challenge that the women faced when they rushed back from the tomb to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen.
It all sounded too good to be true.
Luke’s gospel tells us that those who knew Jesus, including the women, had watched events unfold from a distance.
They had seen Jesus die.
They had seen his body taken down from cross.
Then the women had followed Joseph of Arimathea and had seen how the body was laid out in the tomb, before the stone was rolled across.
Now the disciples couldn’t believe the news that the women proclaimed.
The body of their beloved had gone from the tomb and gleaming figures told them that Jesus had risen, as he had told them he would.
Only impetuous Peter set off to the tomb, to see for himself, according to Luke’s gospel. He, as least, was willing to check out what the women said, even if he didn’t believe it.
It all sounded too good to be true – nonsense, an idle tale, just making it up
And yet, this is the wonder of God.
It can sound too good to be true that God loves us unconditionally
It can sound too good to be true that our mistakes and failings can be fully forgiven
It can sound too good to be true that Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, understands our human condition
It can sound too good to be true that the Holy Spirit and the realm of God are within each one of us
The resurrection of Jesus sounded too good to be true. Yet, over the coming days and weeks, Jesus appeared many times to his disciples, and they came to believe that it was true.
In the midst of war, pandemic, natural disaster, it is totally understandable to doubt all the promises that God has made to us, just as the disciples forgot the words of Jesus, telling them he would rise again. It is hard to believe in resurrection, when all we can see is destruction.
The risen Christ was patient with his followers, helping them to understand the truth of the resurrection, until they could fully rejoice in his living presence.
It may be that our previous experiences of God’s goodness strengthens our resilience and our faith gives us hope for a better day.
Or we may choose to trust the experience of others, even if we don’t yet perceive it for ourselves.
The story of the resurrection is the story of triumph over death, destruction and misuse of power. The compassion shown by communities in the pandemic and the generosity of thousands around the world, including in MCC, in response to the situation in Ukraine are two examples of that.
We are part of the resurrection story, we share in the joy of the risen Christ.
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