Too good not to be true...

Have you ever received an offer that was just too good to be true? A great deal, a promise from a “friend”, an advertisement of a new breakthrough product, or a politician who says “Vote for me and all your wildest dreams will come true!”? Sure you have, we all have.

Is the story of the resurrection in that category? Is the resurrection of Christ something too good to be true? The first witnesses to the resurrected Christ seemed to think so. The bible says the disciples were startled, afraid, amazed, and (in my favorite description) they “disbelieved for joy” (Luke 24:41). In other words, this was too good to be true!

Jesus understands their doubts and fears. He gives them evidence for his resurrection: a physical body, an everyday greeting, and even a shared breakfast! And yet they “disbelieved for joy”.

We can’t blame them. The resurrection has staggering implications. If Christ is risen then (among many other truths) death is disarmed, guilt and shame are absorbed, meaning is restored to life, and our alienation is removed.

If Christ is not risen the implications are clear. Macbeth is correct:

“Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.” (Act 5, Scene 5)

But if Christ is risen the implication are staggering. C.S. Lewis is correct:

“Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for these desires exists. A baby feels hunger; well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim; well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire; well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” (Mere Christianity, Bk. III, chap. 10, "Hope")

May I humbly comment to you the latter! That “Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!” is simply just too good not to be true!

The well wisher of your soul’s happiness,

Pastor Tom

p.s. Here’s a story about our Easter Sunrise service and Lake Swim! And some pictures from our baptism celebration (sign in to Picasa to view)!