The post-Easter response may be more important than all the impressive music and all the detailed build up to Easter Sunday itself.
The Easter story in John does have that interesting interaction with the "Doubting Thomas" who could not believe he was seeing the Risen Christ unless he could touch the wounds caused by the crucifixion.
It is very clear to me what the writer of the Gospel is trying to do. It was written at least 70 years after Jesus' death on the cross. That means it was written so long after the first Easter event that the people who would have heard the stories about the empty tomb and the appearances would have been long gone. Many of them were killed as Christian martyrs.
John's resurrection appearance is written for our benefit and all of us who could not have understood the precipitating events that led to the legend of Easter.
Those who have seen and believed have understood that seeing is believing. For the rest of us we have to believe before we can see because we have seen nothing.
What we believe about Easter determines what we see.
What do you believe?
What do you see?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts on the church web page so that others can read what you've written click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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