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He was a college student
struggling with honest questions about life here
and hereafter. His search had taken him away from
the childhood beliefs instilled by his parents.
Intriguing philosophical and cultic arguments
appealed to his desire to be known to his supposed
intellectual friends as a deep thinker in search
of truth. Finally, however, he was forced to face
life’s most important question: “Did Jesus Christ
rise from the grave?”
This searching student wasn’t
the first to conclude that faith rises or falls
with the resurrection. Paul, the apostle, thought
by many to have been one of the greatest thinkers
ever, said apart from the resurrection all
preaching would be a waste of time, all faith a
delusion and every grave a place of despair. But
Paul didn’t allow his readers to remain long in
limbo on these life and death issues, writing “But
now is Christ risen from the dead,” reminding all
doubters that more than five hundred people then
living had seen the risen Christ.
The crucifixion of Christ had
been difficult for His disciples to accept or
understand but shouldn’t have taken them by
surprise. On one occasion, He had called them
together and revealed that upon reaching Jerusalem
He would be betrayed, mocked, whipped, put to
death and on the third day following these events
rise again. He had said that His suffering and
death would fulfill Old Testament prophecies (Luke
18:31-33). But when the crisis came, these
frightened ones forgot his words and faithlessly
fled for their lives.
Strangely, the eyewitnesses
of the resurrection were at first reluctant to
believe. While the enemies of Jesus
remembered His promise to rise again, His friends
seem to have forgotten it. Matthew Henry, the
noted Bible commentator, concludes this is because
hate is keener sighted than love.
Perhaps.
Even the women who made their
way to the tomb that first Easter morning had
somehow missed the message. They were carrying
spices to anoint and preserve the body of the one
who had declared that death wouldn’t be able to
hold Him in its icy grip. “Destroy this temple,
and in three days I will raise it up,” He had
said. But there they were on a journey of
unbelief.
What changed the minds of
these sincere but doubting women? An early
morning earthquake and an empty tomb (Matthew
28:2).
Moments after the earth began
to move beneath their feet they discovered that
the stone placed at the mouth of the tomb had been
rolled away, ending their doubts forever. The
reality of the resurrection made these women
missionaries who were soon on their way to tell
the disciples the good news that Christ had risen.
Faith often follows fearful
experiences. Trust frequently follows trembling
times. Truth finally triumphs over error.
Many have discovered the
living One their source of peace and strength when
the world was shaking.
Easter says death doesn’t get
the last word after all.
The disciples would soon be
reunited with the One they loved; providing a sure
guarantee…that the same will be true for you and
me. |
