John 20:11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.    

    

    About three years ago I got an email from Starbucks saying I had won a contest and would receive a drink of my choice every day for an entire year! I was excited! But then I was nervous and then I was downright scared. What if it was a scam? What if it wouldn’t happen? There was a month or so of great stress. I know what they told me, but it was like it was too wonderful to really be true. But some weeks later I got a follow-up email with instructions. It really was real and did happen!

    The disciples had followed Jesus around for years. They had watched Him work. They had heard Him preach. They were in! More than just the twelve had been with Him. They had staked their faith on Him. He had been telling them He had to go to Jerusalem. He had explained what would happen in figurative language and in much more straightforward ways. Yet, when they saw Him arrested, they expected a different result. When they saw Him on trial, they held their breath waiting for a grand escape. When He was on the cross, they knew it was over! Visiting the tomb that Sunday morning was done for the same reason graves are visited now - to cry and pay respects. 

    But then, the tomb was empty. What could it mean? What new depths had His enemies sunk to to steal the body?! It seems so crazy to us, sitting in our easy chairs reading about it. How could they have been so dense? How could they have been surprised? He said He would rise again. He even gave them a timetable! How were they so unprepared for what happened? 

    I guess it seemed too wonderful to be true! But it didn’t take long for them to find out it was true! He had said He would rise and He was risen! Their lives were changed forever! The world was changed forever! 

    But that’s not the end. Jesus said more. He said that He would come again. He said He would be back. Do we live in anticipation of His return? Or do we think that maybe He was wrong on this one? “I’ve heard that kind of ‘second coming’ talk my whole life!” If He came back today it would be a surprise. But should it be? He said He was coming. He’s never been proven wrong. Why would we doubt? It may seem to wonderful to be true, but He has shown Himself trustworthy! 

    If it were today, would you be ready? It may sound too good to be true, but He said it, so it is true!

Blessings,        

Pastor Russ