The Bible can seem like a long and intimidating book, but when you look closely, you see that the most amazing things are conveyed in very few words. In telling the story of the resurrection in just ten verses, Matthew isn’t interested in how God pulled it off. Matthew wants us to experience the wonder for ourselves.

When Jesus turned water into wine, there’s no description of how it happened. All we know is that when the master of the banquet tasted the wine, he discovered the greatest vintage ever.

When Jesus fed the 5,000, there’s no description of that either. All the disciples knew was that when they reached into their baskets, the bread and fish never ran out.

In Matthew’s account of the first Easter, Jesus himself met the terrified women running back to tell the disciples about the empty tomb. “Hi,” he said.

God’s first word after conquering death and ushering in new life for all creation was the simple everyday greeting used by the Greeks, chairete. Literally, “rejoice.”

Today we simply say, “Hi.”

Part of the wonder of the resurrection is how subtly it comes.

God is making everything new. The power of what happened that day is seeping into every nook and cranny of the universe. Nothing can stop it. No matter how good or bad things get, the best is always yet to come, and we have an eternity to enjoy it. Our lives have purpose and meaning, since we are part of God’s plan. But resurrection life can be so subtle that we can miss it.

Live each day in joy and wonder.

Chairete. Rejoice.