The life, death and crucifixion of Jesus, was such a dramatic event, the disciples and followers of Him were probably shocked and absorbed by the drama around Jerusalem in 34 AD.

The most amazing thing about all these events was that what they experienced was predicted long before their lifetime. The Prophet Isaiah started a riddle as early as 800 BC when he prophesied that one day, wonderful things will happen. Their God will come to save them, He will do wonderful and mighty deeds amongst them, the blind will see and the lame will leap.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall

Be unstopped. ^6Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue

Of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out,

And streams in the desert.^[1] Is 35: 5

When Jesus has risen from the dead he explained to his followers on numerous occasions how the drama and mystery of those last few days were God’s will. That everything has been fulfilled and that the Messiah has come and they are witnesses of His coming.

 One of the verses that they were maybe talking about on the road was Ezekiel 37: 25. This is a verse that the disciples would have known or heard of already.

And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my

Servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell

therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, forever:

and David my servant shall be their prince for ever^[2]

Ezekiel 37: 25

How could that be, that the throne of David would exist forever? Human beings die and to have a ruler forever would be another mystery or riddle to solve. The disciples would’ve been talking about this then!

What it actually was that he predicted, is a heavenly Kingdom. The prophet was speaking of the Kingdom of God!

 One thing about God, we should never forget, is that He is inexplicable, mysterious and beyond human reasoning. His time is not our time, his manner not like ours and his way of reasoning is unfamiliar to the human mind. Human beings will always be slow to understand and hard to convince.

The mystery of God is unfolding in the lives of Jesus’ disciples. Take for instance the two          walking from Emmaus according to Luke 24: 13. When they reached their home they invited a stranger who accompanied them to dinner. While they were eating their eyes were opened and they could see. In their midst they recognised Jesus the risen Lord and were awed by the beauty and sweetness of their encounter. Their mysterious wonderful Christ had risen, he was alive and well, he was the real Messiah the One promised by God. In Him all these mysterious things predicted, were fulfilled.

There is more mystery and awe, by 323 AD the Roman Empire made Christianity the official religion of the whole known western world. It took just 300 years for the unimaginable to happen. From a scared few scattered confused nobody’s to a worldwide movement so huge today that it affects more than half of the world’s population 3, 6 Billion people. That is enigmatic and intriguing, captivating in the least.

God wants us to believe in His mysteries and have faith in his odd way of doing things. He works through strange and inexplicable events but He never wastes anything and doesn’t make mistakes. He wants us to trust Him and adore Him. Love Him and praise him no matter what. He sent us the Messiah the saviour Jesus Christ to become a human being, die for us on the cross and be raised again on the third day. He is our Lord forever and ever.

If the world is going through chaotic times and people are losing faith one small unimportant person somewhere in a corner having faith could change the world (again). Even if it takes 300 years (again) it will happen, peculiar as it sounds.

In our modern world many young people don’t go to church anymore. It is a problem across the board, Catholics, Presbyterians Anglicans and Methodists experience the same problem. Young people don’t trust institutions like the church anymore. They vote against the church with their feet they have lost faith in clergy, priests and ministers of religion.

 They however still need someone they can trust. Maybe they will trust other believers. If they don’t trust the clergy maybe they will trust the judgement of ordinary people who believe. Just like the few disciples 2000 years ago, a small and insignificant group of people could change the world again

Just keep on believing, not faintly, not negligently, not doubtfully, but let your faith sit fast and immovable throughout your whole heart and soul. Even if the world is mad and not believing you must believe and trust God without wavering. Believe that Jesus is God that there is nothing so true, and nothing so sure, as that He is Lord.

Keep on loving Him, keep on praising Him. He has risen from the dead and lives forever!

Amen