No Idle Tale

Christ has risen!  He has risen indeed! Those words are still ringing in my ears almost a week after a wonderful Easter celebration.  My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of you in the congregation and among the staff that made all the events of Holy Week possible.  From the fellowship events to the specials services, they were all a joy to take part in, and I hope they also helped you in your celebration of the Risen Christ.
Below you will see the scripture that was read last Sunday which details the events of the first Easter morning.  That morning the women were the first to witness the resurrection and to share the news with the other disciples.  There is a phrase in verse 11 that always strikes me regarding how the disciples received the news.  It says that the words of this story seemed to be an “idle tale.”
It perhaps is not so surprising that the first reports of Jesus’ resurrection would be considered nonsense, because it is so outlandish in nature.  In response to this news, all those gathered there, both male and female followers of Christ, could have chosen to remain idle, to do nothing in response to a story that was simply unbelievable.
However, thank goodness they did not.  Thank goodness the women chose to return to their friends and share this good news.  Thank goodness the others chose to run and see for themselves.  Thank goodness they all shared that Christ had risen, he had risen indeed.
Now in this post-Easter time, it is our turn.  It is our turn not to remain idle, but to have the courage to share the good news with all of creation that Jesus Christ has risen, he has risen indeed!
In Christ,
Charlie Lee
 
Luke 24
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.