A tale of the unexpected

Of course they didn't believe the women! Well, be honest, would you have? With their own eyes, they'd seen Jesus crucified and laid out in a tomb. The Romans said he was dead and they'd even stabbed him to make sure. They didn't get something like that wrong! Too much experience!

So, of course he couldn't be alive. There were lots of other explanations for what the women said they had seen; the favourite of which was wishful thinking! It's amazing how powerfully you can imagine something if you want it badly enough. And after all, they were women!

It's amazing what short memories the disciples had. After all, it was only a little while since the whole incident with Lazerus. You'd have thought there might have been a bit of a clue there! But, maybe they didn't want to believe it. If they didn't allow themselves to hope, they wouldn't be opening themselves up to crushing disappointment. Oh no; safer to be a sceptic. And after all, they were men!

But then, suddenly, there he was, walking among them in the upstairs room, and now no-one could deny it; not even Thomas, once he'd spoken to Jesus face to face. And then there were those two on the Emmaus road. And the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb had to be bribed by the High Priests and elders because the rumours were starting; there was a definite need for a bit of Pharisaic spin, first century style.

So the news began to spread; Jesus is not dead. He has come back to life. He is risen. And what had seemed like the end of all their hopes and dreams, longings and expectations, suddenly became a new and better beginning, in a way most unlooked for.

The cross was empty, and so was the tomb.

Easter Sunday

the day when Christians around the world celebrate the risen Christ and proclaim him Lord of all.

Alleluia. Christ is risen!...

Broken bread and wine outpoured

Today is Maundy Thursday; for Christians, the beginning of the celebration of the most important festival in the annual calendar, remembering the betrayal, trial, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To set the scene:

Following his baptism in the River Jordan, Jesus has spent about three years travelling and teaching. Along the way he has gathered around him a band of followers, who we refer to as the disciples; 12 of whom were his closest friends and companions. During their time together, the disciples have been witness to incredible events, including blind men made to see, the lame caused to walk, the deaf made able to hear, bread and fish multiplying enough to feed a huge crowd, a storm supernaturally stilled and, most recently, a dead man brought back to life - events guaranteed to elevate Jesus to celebrity status.

Wherever he has travelled, they have heard Jesus telling stories of the kingdom of God and, as time has passed, they have also seen the opposition, trickery and plotting of the religious leaders of the day; angry that Jesus has dared to contradict their humanly imposed traditions and to question their self-inflating priorities.

In the midst of all of this, Jesus decides to visit Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover; the major Jewish festival of the year. His disciples think he is mad! Doesn't Jesus realise how dangerous this is? He is walking straight into the stronghold of his greatest enemies; the men determined to put a stop to him, by whatever means necessary.

Undaunted, Jesus continues on his chosen course, entering the city riding an unbroken colt, in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy:

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9 (New International Version)

And now, on the first day of the festival, Jesus shares the symbolic Passover meal with his closest friends, after which he takes a piece of bread and breaks it. He shares it amongst his disciples, telling them that the broken bread symbolises his body which will be broken for them. They don't understand, but hear his command to do and to remember.

Then he takes the cup of wine, passes it round and tells them that this represents his blood which will be poured out for them. Do this, and remember!

So today, knowing how events unfolded, we do this and we remember...

that broken bread and wine outpoured...