I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard it said that God answers prayer in four basic ways: yes, no, wait, or “you gotta be kidding!” Maybe that’s how it is for some of us, when we try to wrap our minds around the story of Jesus’ resurrection, after his horrible, violent death on a cross. You gotta be kidding!

Of course, that’s the power and mystery and joy of Easter all rolled into one, and it’s why Christians like us celebrate the way we do. We can’t explain it in scientific terms, but we’re okay with that because we know the truth of the gospel, that Jesus lives—Jesus lives in us.

That’s why we plan to celebrate big time, as we worship God on Easter Sunday, singing and ringing, praising and praying our joyful thanks for the wonderful gift of the living Christ. That’s why we color Easter eggs, and decorate our altar with lovely lilies. That’s why we do what we do on this special day to honor our Lord and Savior.

And it’s wonderful!

You see, Easter means there’s new life and hope and possibilities galore for even the most hardened, cynical, lost and lonely—which pretty much includes all of us at one time or the other. Even the pastor! As United Methodist preacher Billy D. Strayhorn puts it, “What we need to remember is that Jesus didn’t die on the Cross for the perfect. Jesus didn’t die for the Godly. Jesus didn’t die for the good. If so, none of us would have had a chance. Jesus died for the imperfect, ungodly, sinners like us.”

We welcome you to church this Sunday, and every other Sunday, too. Why? Because Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed!