Did you hear that? Did you hear what was just read -- the account of Jesus' resurrection? Did you hear the reaction of those closest to Jesus? Luke 24:11 -- Listen again: "But these words seemed to them (the apostles) an idle tale, and they did not believe them."

Isn't that a fascinating verse to include in the account of the resurrection? Here we are, come to celebrate the greatest event in the history of the world. Here we are, come together to rehear the greatest story ever told -- that death has been defeated, that sin holds no power to destroy us, that a kingdom awaits us, that there can be new life now. Here we are, and what do we hear? We hear that those closest to Jesus during the three years of his ministry, those who heard him preach on hillside and beside water, those who had shared in miracles, those who had broken bread with him as only friends can in the intimacy of the upper room, those who had heard him teach with patience about the kingdom of God, now we hear that when they heard the amazing story of the empty tomb, they thought it was nonsense!

Does that boggle the timbers of your faith a bit? It does mine. I have always had this image of the disciples -- the true followers of Jesus. These were the eye-witnesses to Jesus' ministry. If they hadn't shared what they saw and heard, we wouldn't have, today, the story of Jesus to tell. And here they are, these people of faith, these whom Jesus told about his new kingdom he was establishing, these whom Jesus tried to tell about what would happen after three days -- they thought it was an "idle tale." It was nonsense to them.

But you know what? They were right! The story the women told them is nonsense. Who ever heard of someone regaining life after being declared dead for three days? Why, that's preposterous. The brain cells would have died, the body would already be decomposing. It is nonsense to think that someone who went through the agony of crucifixion and had the life, breath and blood squeezed out of him could suddenly have enough strength to walk out of a damp, dark tomb. And what about that huge stone rolled away from the tomb's entrance? Explain that! This whole resurrection story is so much nonsense -- it defies medical explanation; it goes against rational thinking; it just isn't possible!

But it happened! Dear friends in Christ, it happened. It is nonsense, but it happened. I believe one of the biggest problems with Christianity is that people want to take the nonsense out of it. I've heard radio preachers and television evangelists and all manner of Christians try to tell me that Christianity makes sense. That it's the easiest, most natural thing in the world to believe in Christ. I've been told and preached to and almost convinced that being a follower of Jesus is simple, that the stories of miracles and healings and the accounts of Jesus' life, some of them amazing to me, are easy to accept. I've been told that it's logical to believe in someone who walked this earth almost 2,000 years ago in an obscure corner of creation, someone who performed miracles, who fed 5,000 people with a few loaves and fish, who raised a friend from death, who forgave a scorned woman at a well her sins. Tell me, is it logical to believe in something that happened so long ago, so far away, something that defies medical, scientific, rational explanation?

I'm sorry, folks, I don't buy it. I'm afraid I'm in the camp with the disciples. It is nonsense. For me to believe any of this would be for me to accept what isn't possible. Believing in an event, in a story, that is so radical would have to change my perception of life. If I believe the women's story who ran from the tomb that first Easter morn, then I'm stuck with believing something so new, so different, so radical, that my life will have to change, to be new, different, radical as a result of the belief!

I don't care what anybody says. It isn't logical, rational; it doesn't make sense to believe in Jesus, the Christ. It is nonsense, this story of resurrection. And it is precisely because it is nonsense, precisely because it defies explanation, precisely because it is radical, that my life is dramatically changed by it. Because Jesus the Christ lives, I too can live -- that's radical. Because of Jesus the Christ, I can love my enemy; I can pray for those who persecute me; I can turn the other cheek when someone slaps me; I can give when others hurt -- that, my friends, is radical. It is not the way of the world. To be a Christian is not to be a rational, logical part of this world. To be a Christian means to live in the nonsense of the resurrection, to live a radical new life because the tomb was empty. Jesus lives and is here now with us. Because of what he did, love can triumph over hate, goodness over evil, truth over lies, hope over despair.

We are new creatures -- radical, nonsensical people who live believing an amazing story. We are new creatures in our baptism into this Christ of the empty tomb. We are new creatures -- with love to share, with a story of hope to tell, with forgiveness to embrace our neighbor, with hands and hearts that can reach out beyond our own selfish concerns to that person who needs us. We are new creatures living in the nonsense of the resurrection. I tell you this morning -- Jesus lives! And so can we. We can live radical new lives of faith and love. Jesus lives! And so can we. We can live changed lives filled with hope and joy. Jesus lives! And so can we! He is risen! He is risen, indeed. Thanks be to God! Amen.