The crowd has gathered. The rumors are flying.
Huddled in a large room, the level of mumbling among the people has risen to more than a murmur. It’s more like shock and awe and panic.
There you are, in the midst. Wondering to yourself: What’s going on?
More fake news?
Is that the man you’ve seen before, standing up in our midst? The one they call Peter, who was always seen with that Jesus, who they sadly put to death a few days ago?
Last we saw Peter, he was crying uncontrollably as if he felt shame over something he had done – or not done.
What is he doing now?
“Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.”
Yes, yes. The miracles, the cures … Lazarus! Those were amazing things. But why is he talking about this now? The man, the Rabbi, he is dead.
“This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.”
Sad, but true. We watched it with our own eyes from afar. Such a tragedy.
“But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.”
Wait … what?
Did he just say, God raised him up?
The murmuring grew louder. A mix of excitement and disbelief, happiness and anger, hope and fear.
Like that day a few years back, when a young Jesus read from the scrolls about the promise of a savior. Then he said on this day, that the promise had been fulfilled.
Lots of murmuring that day, too.
Now this?
A resurrection?
This can’t be. We saw him breathe his last, hanging on that cross. His body was pale by the time they took him down and placed him in that tomb.
And yet, that is what Peter just said. And it’s what we heard as we made our way to this gathering. Gossip! Or …Gospel?
The crowd begins to break apart. Many follow Peter to a new life while others disperse, not sure which way to go or where to turn.
On this Monday within the Octave of Easter, we continue to process the news of the incredible events we first heard about on Easter Sunday.
The rock has been rolled away.
The tomb is empty.
Jesus is alive.
Simple words. But packed with so much meaning.
These things can’t be digested in a day.
It takes time to ponder and pray and ask for the faith to believe in things we did not see – 140 characters on Twitter are not going to suffice; nor will a pretty picture on Facebook.
We need time and patience. We need depth of understanding.
What does this mean? What did it mean back when it happened … and what does it mean for me today?
Jesus is alive … fine. But where is he now?
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Perhaps it is time to start figuring that out.
