Do we really believe Jesus is coming again?

​I am a Christian.

At the heart of that is my belief that Jesus died.
Three days later Jesus walked out of his tomb.
Jesus ascended into heaven but left his spirit behind to live in me. And one day Jesus is returning to get me and that spirit and is bringing us home to live with him forever.

I believe all that.

Or do I?

Do you know in spite of the scriptures foretelling that Jesus would rise from the dead, and in spite of Jesus telling them himself that he'd rise from the dead, AND - in spite of Jesus demonstrating to them that he COULD raise someone from the dead (Lazarus) - there is not a shred of evidence that his disciples actually believed Jesus WOULD rise from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Like if they actually believed it, would they have let his body out of their sight. If they actually believed it, would Jesus have had to work so hard to convince them it was him they were seeing AFTER he actually rose?

But do we believe it any stronger than they did?

If I have a friend I love and haven't seen in years who is showing up at the airport today for a visit, I'm getting my house in order, shopping for some food, printing off his arrival times and gate, and then I'm going to go sit at that gate and wait on him.

That is, if I actually believe he is coming. If I don't actually believe it I may just go on with life and keep my phone turned on in case he calls.

Sometimes - maybe more than sometimes I fear as I write this - I'm running around with my phone turned on just in case Jesus calls.

He's told me he's coming, he's told me what to pack, he's told me how to get prepared for his visit - and yet, many days, I act as if he never told me a thing.

Jesus rising from the dead was never intended to be an annual spring Sunday celebration. A day to play dress up. Color eggs. Hunt for eggs. Eat lots of chocolate eggs.

Those things are all well and good, but they were never the point.

The point was an invitation to start getting ready. Start packing. To start living our stories like we know how the story ends. To live like we believe Jesus is coming again.

Not hoping he does; fingers crossed.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead, it's a good day to get re-committed to believing Jesus is coming again. It's a good day to review the packing list. Because Jesus gave us one.

Jesus said:

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, “I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Jesus made it clear, if we truly believe he is coming again, our every day will look like us pouring into others - especially the least of these - with confidence that loving them is loving the Jesus that is coming to get us and bring us home.

That is, if we TRULY believe he's coming again.

Jesus told his disciples he would rise again. Many of them watched him die on Good Friday.

And then walked away and spent Saturday feeling defeated.

Because in spite of all they'd heard and seen they didn't believe for a second that Sunday was coming.

It's Saturday once again.

Do we believe it? Do we believe he will rise again?

Or do we simply have our fingers crossed - hoping?

Review your packing list. It will tell you all you need to know.

And if you're like me, you'll be left feeling like maybe you have to begin doing a little more believing than hoping.

The least of us deserve more than our fingers crossed.