Could such a fantasy become reality? Might there be, after all, some deep magic that could turn back time? Better, might there be a power magnanimous enough to usher in a whole new age - the age of resurrection - and triumph over death itself? “These words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11). When news came, then, from the women, it seemed like sheer fantasy. His men had abandoned their master in his most critical hour, leaving him alone to carry the weight of the world’s sin - and the greatest burden of all: being forsaken by his Father.
It was “a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling” (Isaiah 8:14) for the long-awaited Messiah to go out like this.
As much as he’d done to prepare his disciples for it, a literal crucifixion was so contrary to their paradigm that they had no meaningful way to bring it into their minds and hearts. No one truly saw this coming but Jesus himself. He has risen. Indeed, for all eternity his people will stand in awe of the love of God on display in Christ’s death, and the power of God bursting forth in his resurrection. In some ways, it would take his disciples the rest of their lives to grasp the impact of this news. It was all so unexpected, so stupendous, such a dramatic reversal of the heartbreak and devastation of the previous three days. The word on the street that Sunday morning in the Holy City was almost too good to be true. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
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