The disciples were pretty much confused, I think. Jesus was telling them what was going to happen, but they had always been told that Messiah would come as a conqueror. They expected Jesus to raise an army, but He was saying other things. The mother of James and John even asked Him to put her boys in the prime spots of His kingdom. There may have been a feeling of disillusionment, as well. Judas Iscariot had betrayed Him. It would be just a short time and Thomas would be expressing his doubts. The disciples were heavy with grief.

Of all people, you would have thought Mary would be on top of it. The angel had come to her to announce the birth, she had spent decades with Him, she had given Him motherly direction, as when He turned the water into wine. She may have understood more than most, but she was still a little in the dark.

The cheering crowds of a few days before really had no clue, and neither did those who had condemned Him. They cursed Him, they mocked Him, they called for His death. The guards at the tomb should have expected something great, but when the angel appeared, they fell to the ground in a faint. It was all a spectacle. Something to do and to see before the heat of summer set in. Stonings and executions always drew a big crowd. Say what you wanted to about the Romans, but they always put on a great show. 

There were those who stayed true. Those who risked their own lives to prepare His body. Those who had loved Him and had come to the cross to grieve. But still, there wasn't real understanding. The women who went to the tomb to anoint His body went early on Sunday in accordance with the law, not to witness the Resurrection.

All of these people were Jews! They had heard the words of the various prophets! They had heard Isaiah's words about the horror of His death! They had the information! But traditions and reasonings had swayed them all.

And, of course, there are those today who, even with the whole story, still follow the traditions and reasonings rather than feel the power. The new dress and the sharp necktie and the easter egg hunt and the easter basket with candy takes on as much significance, and perhaps greater significance, than the Word of God. And the true meaning become murky.

But in that moment before the light of the rising sun, something began to happen. The earth began to shake. A sound, a grinding noise was heard in that cemetery as the stone rolled away. A white light with the image of a man in it began to descend from heaven. The guards saw it and collapsed from fear. As the morning mist began to thin, women approached the tomb with their burial oils. There they saw the gleaming figure sitting atop the stone. Fear came upon them. And then the angel said, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay!

What more do we need? At Christmas we have an amazing story, yet we seek to dress it up in pretty wrappings. Why? And now, as we look at the greatest moment in all of history, we attach other worldly things to it, even calling it by a name that is an insult.  The greatest words in history are the words of Jesus as He gave up His life; It is finished! And as the women approached the tomb and the angel said, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay!

And just like that, the world changed. He is risen from the dead! Make the Resurrection count for something great this year. Don't worry about your church. Focus on the job He gave you and the church will take care of itself.

Blessings.