So, we celebrated another week of Easter, or Resurrection Sunday at our church...might as well, right? I mean it is a pretty important component of who we are. :)
The focus was on the disciples reaction to Jesus coming back to life...the fact that they didn't recognize him at first...and I can't help but think that it was in that moment of breaking bread, something they did often together, that their eyes were opened and they knew their friend and leader...yeah, maybe they were grief stricken or just disappointed...who knows?
We extended our conversation in Bible study that morning and we were talking about the verses that clearly state that some of the followers doubted. But, it doesn't stop there. Jesus doesn't stop there. It's as if faith naturally comes with doubt and Jesus is okay with it. In fact, doubt didn't change Jesus. Doubt didn't change the fact that he came, he died, he came back to life, and gave ALL of them instructions, even the doubting ones. Maybe Jesus knew that one day they would move past their doubt to believe again and they would hear his words of encouragement and affirmation.
We also talked about the lack of attention to the ascension of Jesus in the gospel of Mark (I think...sorry if I'm wrong). I had never thought about that until Sunday...the fact that the account places importance on how we should live and what we should do, not on the glorious ascension of God's son. It's like Jesus is telling us to stop focusing on his death and to start living....living as he lived...stirring things up, telling everyone about his love forever and ever, in all directions. To not stop...to keep going, to keep living...because that is what Kingdom living is all about and that's the reason he died. Validate what he did on the cross by living as he calls us to live. That's powerful. That is life changing and life-giving.
So yes, maybe jumbled up thoughts here, but remember...
He is alive. We have permission to doubt. But above all...live.
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