When others told Jesus’ disciples that Jesus was alive, they didn’t believe it. You can’t really blame them. In most people’s experience, someone who’s dead tends to stay dead. Later he appeared to them all in person and told them that they should have believed – and that it was really true. He was alive. And then he told them to go and tell everyone. And how could they not? This was a truly amazing occurrence. A true miracle, and one they had seen with their own eyes and could report on directly. I think if I’d seen something like this I’d be out telling everyone who would listen. But that ends up getting them in a bit of trouble as well. In the reading from Acts they are healing people in Jesus’ name and telling of his resurrection. The Sanhedrin tell them that they are forbidden to mention his name. The elders want to stop all this talk about miracles and don’t want to encourage anyone to follow these men or their teachings. But how can the disciples not tell these amazing things that they have seen and experienced? And how can the people not follow them, recognizing that they can heal in Jesus’ name – that the miracles are real. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it.” Once they’ve seen and experienced such marvels, they can’t keep quiet about them. And once the people hear such things, they can’t help but follow. The disciples’ answer to the restriction was only natural as well, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” God told them to tell everyone what they knew, but how could they keep quiet about such an amazing experience. And at Easter season we all share in that amazement. It doesn’t seem like it should be possible, but He has risen from the dead. It should be impossible for us not to speak about what we know. He’s alive. |