No Idle Tale

The four Gospels all dedicate a great deal of their attention to the Passion narrative – the story of what happens to Jesus once he enters Jerusalem - the betrayal of Judas, the arrest in Gethsemane, the mock trials, the denial by Peter, Jesus’ crucifixion, death and burial.

All four Gospels also agree on the early disciples’ witness to the resurrection of Jesus. The tomb was empty on Sunday morning.
There is disagreement on the details. I am not surprised. When out of the ordinary events take place everyone has their own perspective on what they witnessed. I would be more suspicious of the story if all the Gospels marched in lockstep agreement on all the details – a sure sign of editorial tampering. But for those early followers of Jesus, something happened that rocked their world, and has continued to rock our world in the 21st Century.

I love the line in Luke’s Gospel when the women come to tell the apostles about the appearance of angels at the empty tomb, “these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them (Luke 24:11).” There is a ring of truth to this description. Imagine the lack of respect implied by that summary statement. I imagine the men, so absorbed in their own thoughts, and so generally dismissive of women, that they ignore the first proclamation of the Gospel, “He is risen!” Only later, when the men witness the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes, do they attach any credence to the women’s testimony that is thus preserved in Luke’s Gospel.

These kinds of details in the story are what give the resurrection accounts a sense of authenticity. Among the early Christians, there was significant doubt about what they were witnessing, and that doubt is preserved in the text. Only undeniable experiences of Jesus are able to overcome the initial skepticism of the disciples.

To the world today much of what the church professes on Easter morning seems like an “idle tale.” We who believe should not be surprised at those who doubt our witness. After all, we are not eyewitnesses but solely dependent on the testimony of those who have gone before us.

Still, I have seen the miracle of new life in the people I know. I have seen hopeless alcoholics and helpless drug addicts become sober, productive people. I have seen self-absorbed adolescents become self-giving teenagers. I have not seen the dead rise, but I have seen Christ alive in others.

Chuck used to talk about the roughness of his past. He shared no details, but I know he had trouble with drinking too much, with getting in trouble with the law, and generally self-destructive behavior. But the Chuck I knew was at peace with himself, happy in his marriage, generous to a fault, and deeply committed to the ideals of his faith. He was living a whole new life. He would say, “It’s because Jesus is now living in me.”

This is no idle tale. He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Amen!