Yesterday we mentioned that nearly all the participants in the first Easter story completely missed what was really going on. Interestingly, that group was very diverse. In polling, those surveys having what statisticians call a "varied sample group" (VSG) contain information considered to be more solid than surveys from only one group of people. Certainly those Passion week witnesses were a significantly broad and varied sample group.
They spanned the gamut: wealthy to poor; highly educated to completely unschooled; men and women; young to old; white collar to blue collar; white skinned to brown skinned; locals to travelers; people from every background, personality, and even religious experience. Religious experience...that may be the most interesting one of all.
This VSG had those who were highly religious but not necessarily spiritual--the religious leaders. Then there were the highly spiritual but not necessarily religious ones--the women who came to anoint the body. And you also had those who were somewhere in the middle--the disciples and many of the people. And finally, those who were neither--Romans, some of the Jews, and some of the travelers.
I think a 2008 VSG would not be much different than one from the first Easter...those who missed it before are not unlike those who may be missing out on something big God is doing now. Education on one hand or simplicity on the other is no hedge against missing out. The strength of wealth or the humility of poverty does not in either case help you to better see what God is doing. Even thinking you are religious or spiritual will not help you necessarily to "get it". So don't count on any of those things because if you do, you will have one more trait in common with the first Easter's varied sample group.
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