Easter Sunday, April 5

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve… and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 8

Paul was not there. Paul was not at the empty tomb. Paul was not in the garden when the women saw Jesus. Paul was not in the upper room when Jesus appeared to the disciples…with or without Thomas. Paul was not there when Jesus appeared by the sea and Peter leaped out of the boat to swim to him. Paul was not there at all…yet in the end, Paul claims that Jesus appeared to him.

People have argued over the years about when Jesus appeared to him. Some suppose that Paul is referring to his “Road to Emmaus” experience. Others have different ideas. Yet in some ways I am not sure that it matters. All that matters is that Paul had an experience of the risen Christ…a fact which ought to give all of us hope. It ought to give us hope because if Paul could encounter Christ alive, then so can we.

On this Easter morning that is the claim that we make; that all of us can have an experience of the risen Christ, because Christ is risen. Christ is not dead. Christ lives. So as you head off to church, or out to visit family, remember that the risen Christ is present now and always, ready to meet you wherever you are.

Loving God, we give you thanks that you raised Jesus from the dead and that in his new life he is present for all of us. Amen

Rev. Dr. John Judson