crazy talk

Paul got most of the way through his defense in front of King Agrippa until he got to the thing that the governor, Festus, just couldn’t accept: the resurrection of Jesus.

Here it is, in Acts 26:22-25: “‘But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen — that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.’ 

“At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. ‘You are out of your mind, Paul!’ he shouted. ‘Your great learning is driving you insane.’

“‘I am not insane, most excellent Festus,’ Paul replied. ‘What I am saying is true and reasonable.’”

To Festus, the idea that Jesus could come alive again was preposterous. That’s sad, because it means Festus couldn’t see the beauty of Christianity.

For Christians, death is no longer to be feared. All our hope is found in the fact that for Jesus, death wasn’t an obstacle. His resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven are historical facts that make all the difference. The conqueror of death sits at God’s side, speaking for all of us who call him Lord.

It's sad that, for so many of my friends and neighbors, this is crazy talk. It’s even more sad that the same is the case for many of our leaders. But it’s not because Festus was right, that people who believe this are insane. It’s because listening to Satan makes good news sound like insanity.

It’s why we need the Holy Spirit. Without that wise counselor, it easily does seem like crazy talk.