Believing Nonsense

  In the resurrection and post-resurrection accounts it was important to name names because those were the people giving eyewitness testimony that Jesus had indeed risen and was alive.  That someone who was publicly executed was now alive and visiting people was an incredible thing to try to believe.  Even the disciples did not immediately believe Mary Magdalene's report that Jesus was alive.  As Mark says, "She went and told those who had been mourning and weeping.  When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it" (Mark 16:10-11).  Luke (who has other women going to the tomb with Mary Magdalene) says, "They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense" (Lk 24:11). 
  There are two things in Christianity that are really hard to believe:  Jesus is God and Jesus rose from the dead.  The people who were there at the time initially did not believe either. Only after they saw for themselves did they come to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
  For reflection:  Do I believe that Jesus is God and he rose from the dead?  If so, why?  If not, why not?
  Let us pray.  Jesus, reveal yourself to me today in a concrete way.

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