Today is important. But not for the reason you think.
Not because death has been defeated.
Not because Christ has burst forth from the grave and reigns with His Father over all creation.
Not because He leads His people into life and freedom.
No. Let me tell you why today is important:
it’s important because we have guests tomorrow and I have to get things ready.
Beds to make.
A roast to cook.
Washing to dry.
A toilet to bleach.
Towels to fold.
The Jesus stuff is nice. But after church, I have things to do. Life. No amount of fuzzy feelings are going to iron those shirts. And I’m sorry, but what use is God when the fridge leaks and the cat chews through the phone cable? I’ll tell you what’s real: the smell of burning and my aching feet.
What I need is a practical God – not a cloud-floater or a sky-fairy. Someone who gets what it’s like to be human, with a mum and guests and a stonking to-do list. Someone who gets hungry and tired and eats and walks and speaks. The sort of God you can touch.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
(Luke 24:36-47).
The Risen Lord Jesus.
With us on the school-run and with us at the supermarket. With us when we’re praying and with us when we’re screaming. With us when we eat and with us when we starve. With us when we weep and with us when we laugh.
Ransom. Redeemer. Saviour. Friend.
A real God for real people.
and when we ignore the laundry and read blogs instead? :)
Great reminder. So easy to fall into trap of thinking that when I FEEL super spiritual God is close to me, and when I’m swamped and at the end of my tether He is distant and unimpressed. So grateful to have a God who loves, and who does real life. Thanks Emma!