We believe you!

Happy Easter!

I came across a beautiful story recently about a woman named Rosemary who works in the Alzheimer's Unit of a nursing home. Rosemary and a colleague named Arlene brought the residents of the home together one Good Friday afternoon to view Franco Zeffirelli's acclaimed production Jesus of Nazareth. They wondered whether these elderly Alzheimer's patients would even know what was going on, but they thought it might be worth the effort.

When they finally succeeded in getting everyone into position, they started the video. Rosemary was pleasantly surprised at the quiet attention being paid to the screen. At last came the scene where Mary Magdalene comes upon the empty tomb and sees that Jesus' body is not there. An unknown man, in reality the risen Christ, asks Mary why she is looking for the living among the dead. Mary runs as fast as she can back to the disciples and tells Peter and the rest with breathless excitement, "He's alive! I saw Him, I tell you! He's alive." The doubt in their eyes causes Mary to pull back. "You don't believe me . . . You don't believe me!" she says.

From somewhere in the crowd of Alzheimer's patients, came the clear, resolute voice of Esther, one of the patients. "WE BELIEVE YOU," she said, "WE BELIEVE YOU!"

That is the challenge for all Christians at Easter. To accept that Jesus rose from the grave on that first Easter morning and lives today with his Father. Or not.

It is a great story. A story that changed the history of the world. A story that changes history to this day. But if we are honest perhaps from time to time we have doubts about it. Is it just that a story or is it true?

Truth be told, none of us know whether it is true or not. We cannot know. But like Esther, the lady with Alzheimer’s I hope that you, like me can say “WE BELIEVE YOU!” We believe the message of Easter to be true.

The message that Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

David.