Easter Sunday falls upon April Fools’ Day this year. What a joke! According to Wikipedia, April Fools’ Day is an annual celebration in some European and Western countries commemorated on April 1st by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales(1392) contains the first recorded association between April 1st and foolishness.

While April Fools’ Day was not observed in ancient Palestine, the disciples certainly thought the women’s story of the resurrection was a joke – until they encountered the risen Christ for themselves. Throughout history theories have continued to be peddled that the resurrection was a hoax.

What, then, is the evidence for the resurrection? In sum: The tomb was empty despite a Roman guard having been placed on duty. Jesus body was never found. If the authorities had taken the body they would have produced it when claims were made about the resurrection. The disciples were as shocked as anyone about the resurrection; it is hard to believe that they would have cooked up such “fake news”. After the crucifixion, the disciples were demoralized and defeated, in fear of the Jewish authorities and denied they had ever known Jesus. Then such a change occurred in them that they risked their lives to proclaim Jesus as Messiah. They were prepared to die for their faith. More than 500 people, no less, professed to having seen Jesus alive. The witnesses not only saw Jesus, they touched him, talked with him, walked with him, learned from him and ate with him. The testimony of the early followers turned the world upside down. For 2,000 years since, men and women around the globe have claimed that we can know the risen Christ for ourselves today.

Alleluia. Christ is Risen!

Rev Lisa Cornwell