To Our Surprise (blog)

After sitting for a while on her eggs, so full of the promise of new life, the female Cerulean Warbler tucks her wings close to her body and hops from her tree nest into a kind of free fall.  At a certain point in her rapid descent through the air, just before all hope is lost, she suddenly spreads her wings and glides.We never should have doubted her.With God's promise of salvation before him, Jesus took our sin upon himself on the Cross and descended fully into death in our place.  Then, just as all hope of the fulfillment of that promise seemed lost, Jesus surprised everyone by rising again to life!In his Gospel account, Matthew describes the scene that Easter morning in dramatic detail, as the women made their way to the empty tomb..."There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow." (28:2-3)Did the angel who surprised the women look like lightning, or was his descent from heaven like lightning?  And why did he sit atop the stone?  Maybe to communicate the ease with which he had rolled it away?  Jesus was alive!"Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." (Matthew 28:5-6)Amid all of your wonder and awe at Jesus Christ's glorious Resurrection, don't miss that last part about how he rose just as he had said."We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law," Jesus had told his disciples.  "They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.  On the third day he will be raised to life!" (20:18-19)Why was his Resurrection such a surprise to the people who had followed Jesus?Knowing God's promise, to send a Savior, was one thing.  Putting it into context, by believing in Jesus as the promised Savior, was another thing.  And watching the Savior they had put their faith and hope in die a cruel and seemingly pointless death was something else entirely.It didn't make sense."Come and see the place where he lay," the angel said, inviting the women to experience the empty tomb for themselves.  He instructed them to tell Jesus' followers that their Savior was going into Galilee and would meet them there, saying (and don't miss this part) "There you will see him." (28:6-7)Matthew tells us that even when his disciples did see their risen Lord with their own eyes, some doubted. (28:17)We have the benefit of seeing how Jesus' death and Resurrection were God's eternal plan for the salvation of all people.  Still, as we put these truths into context in our own lives, we also doubt at times, when troubles come and God seems silent.But when, in those times of doubt, we remember his dying and his rising, and continue to come to him in trust, then we experience his peace and help in our suffering soon enough.  We find, to our surprise, that his grace really is enough to hold us up, and carry us through, and catch us when we fall.God is faithful in keeping His promises!  His love overcomes and endures.  We are forgiven and saved, and we can trust and rest in this truth and in our hope in eternal life with Him!  Jesus is with us, and he always will be.Christ is Risen!He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!