| Easter Confusion |
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It’s got beyond a joke. I really must get a grip.  Friday is shopping-for-the-week day. It’s no fun – but it’s got to be done. My wife and I have a system designed to get the job done and then to get home in the shortest possible time. The plan kicks off with my dropping her off to start the shopping while I get petrol. So far so good. I return, park, go into the store… and begin to check the isles… My wife is nowhere to be seen! It’s then that the confusion begins. What was she wearing? I can’t remember! I don’t think I’m crazy. It’s just the old problem of not recognising someone out of their usual environment. This may explain why two travellers suffered the same experience on the first Easter Day. Jesus had warned his disciples what lay ahead. His teaching increasingly brought him into conflict with religious leaders. It could only end in trouble. Eventually Jesus was betrayed by a friend, accused of things he didn’t say or do, condemned by the Roman governor, and nailed to a cross between two thieves. Crucified on Friday at 9.00am, Jesus died at 12.00 noon. At 3.00pm permission was given for friends to take his body down and lay it in a borrowed grave. With time running out they could only wrap the body in strips of cloth, roll a stone over the door, and return to complete the job two days later, after the Jewish Sabbath. We know little about the two travellers returning home to their village, 7 miles from Jerusalem. We wish that Luke had given us more information about them (Luke 24:13-35). They were clearly disciples of Jesus, having followed him, taken on board his teaching, and come to believe that he was the Christ who came into the world to rescue them. After all, his words and miracles were very powerful. Disillusioned But now, they were disillusioned and disappointed. Women had gone to Jesus’ grave early that morning – and found it empty. They had met angels who said Jesus was alive. But no-one had seen him! So with evening approaching, and still no sign of him, they gave up, turned their backs on Jerusalem – and their hopes – and headed for home to get on with their lives without him. During the journey they were joined by a stranger. He asked what they were discussing so passionately as they walked. They stopped in amazement, and one asked rather roughly if he was a visitor to Jerusalem, not to have heard of the amazing events there over the past weekend. They opened the flood-gates of their dashed hopes – all in the past tense! None of it was relevant now! Rather than be offended, the stranger rebuked them for their unbelief, and reminded them that the Bible predicted Christ’s suffering and death. It was both foreseen and an essential part of his mission to rescue the world. In fact, he could never be the Saviour of the World without suffering, dying, and rising again! Eventually the travellers reached their village home. The stranger was about to walk on but was invited in to share an evening meal. Suddenly, the Guest became the Host – and gave thanks for the food before serving them. It was then that they recognised him – the living Jesus – no doubt still bearing the wounds of his terrible ordeal. Reliable evidence Strange how unbelief can blind us to the most solid reasons for believing Jesus’ resurrection. The most reliable evidence is the eyewitness accounts in the Gospels. These continue to be the foundation for faith for countless men and women who will greet the risen Christ again this year – and you could be among them! All I’ve got to do now is to work out how this can help me recognise my wife while shopping next Friday! Michael Toogood |
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