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I’ve spent extra time this year meditating on both the cross and the events of Holy Week and on the resurrection and events accompanying it. The cross was unimaginably brutal. How Jesus got through it and the scourging preceding it is a mystery.

By contrast, the post-resurrection appearances have a whimsical quality about them. I think Jesus was having fun!

Suddenly, the earth shook violently beneath their feet as the angel of the Lord Jehovah descended from heaven. Lightning flashed around him and his robe was dazzling white! The guards were stunned and terrified—lying motionless like dead men. Then the angel walked up to the tomb, rolled away the stone, and sat on top of it! Matthew 28:2 – 4 (Passion Translation NT)

This had to be a fun day in the heavens. Jesus was already gone from the tomb. The Father said, “OK, let’s put the plan into action. They won’t know he’s gone if we don’t roll away the stone.” So he sent two angels. Fun duty. 

In Matthew 28.5 – 10, the women’s emotions ran the gamut:

• Breathless and terrified (v5)
• Deep in wonder, filled with joy (v8)
• Overwhelmed (v9)
• Still with fears (v10)

Along the way, Jesus suddenly appeared in front of them and said, “Rejoice!” They were so overwhelmed by seeing him that they bowed down and grasped his feet in adoring worship. Then Jesus said to them, “Throw off all your fears. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will find me there.” Matthew 28:9-10 (Passion Translation NT)

Why did he appear to the women first? Maybe because the disciples fled the scene but the women stayed on. John was at the cross, but none of the others.

Real people. Real emotions. Real uncertainty for a time. Jesus is having fun! And he’s always sending. “Go and tell.” He could have done that himself, but he sent the women first.  

Then there’s the story of Jesus’ appearing to the two folks on their way to Emmaus. This is a great story and underscores how much fun Jesus was having since the resurrection! (Luke 24.13 – 35)

• He appeared incognito
• “What things?”
• “Why are you so thick-headed?” Then he walked them through the entire Old Testament. (I wish we had the text of that sermon!)
• He pretended to go on past the village
• He revealed himself in the breaking of bread
• Then he vanished (only to reappear back in Jerusalem after the two returned (on foot!) to Jerusalem

Finally, he meets them in Galilee, “And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.” Then he said to those doubters(!) and to us:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28.18 – 20, NIV)

He is risen! Happy Easter!