Easter With HopeSample

A Real and Raised Hope

Plot twists are great. In movies, when we find out a family connection (‘Luke, I am your father!’), or even when the mask is removed and we discover the real culprit of a crime (‘And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids!’). Something hidden is revealed, and it’s a great relief.

One of my favourite chapters of Scripture is Luke 24, and I love to read it around Easter each year. It’s a chapter filled with heavy emotion, as the reality of Jesus’ death sinks in amongst the disciples, before it is revealed that He has risen to life again. And while this looks like a major plot twist, the disciples should not have been surprised by Jesus’ resurrection. All the Scriptures pointed to this event (v27), and Jesus Himself had explained that He would rise to life on the third day (9:22).

But the disciples were indeed surprised to see Jesus, raised physically in front of their very eyes. And these words in Luke should give us hope because we too will be raised physically – flesh, bones and all. Death is not the end – there’s more to come.