The Reality of the Resurrection
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The Reality of the Resurrection
Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross at 9:00 one Friday morning. By 3:00 in the afternoon of the same day, he was dead. Friends came to take Jesus’ body. They wrapped it in burial linens and laid it in a tomb, but there was no time for the usual burial ritual. The Jewish Sabbath was only a few hours away, and no Jew would touch a dead body on the Sabbath, for it would make that person ceremonially unclean and prohibit him or her from participating in the Sabbath observance.
When the Sabbath day was over, early on Sunday morning, devout women went to Jesus’ tomb with spices and ointment. Out of respect, love, and honor they wanted to perform the formal rites associated with burial. When they arrived at the tomb, they found that the massive stone had been rolled away from the entrance. And when they entered the tomb, they did not find Jesus’ body. Two angelic messengers informed them that Jesus Christ had risen. They were the first to discover the reality of the resurrection.
The women rushed back to where the disciples were meeting and told them about the reality of the resurrection. The disciples had a strange response to the women’s message. “Their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not” (). The expression “idle tales” comes from Greek medical writers who used it to describe the babbling of a fevered and insane mind. The disciples were not convinced of the resurrection.
Still today many people do not believe in the resurrection. The gospel account seems to many as an “idle tale.” But Christians know that Jesus is alive, for his Spirit lives in them. Therefore they can be bold about affirming the reality of Christ’s resurrection.
I. The touch of personal experience.
Nothing can be more convincing than a personal experience. Seeing the empty tomb and hearing the angelic messengers convinced the women visitors of the reality of the resurrection. They needed no apologetic proof to convince them or to persuade others that Jesus was alive.
The Romans sought to nullify the Lord’s resurrection. Matthew wrote, “And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept” (28:12–13). The Jews used treachery to arrest Jesus. Then they tried him illegally on false charges. Now Jesus’ enemies used bribery to silence the news of his resurrection.
Yet not any of the machinations of malicious people could suppress the risen Lord. Bribery could not silence the news about him. Roman guards could not contain him in a cave. Jesus presented himself alive to people. They experienced him personally. He met with them, ate with them, and taught them. These personal experiences of the risen Lord furnish conclusive evidence of his resurrection from the dead. Further, Christians today are convinced of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection by having a personal experience with him. When we open our lives to the risen Christ, we can testify of his living presence.
II. The testimony of Scripture.
Another convincing factor of Jesus’ resurrection is the testimony of Scripture. When the women came to the tomb, the angelic messengers reminded them of Jesus’ promise of resurrection. Throughout the New Testament there are numerous references to it.
The New Testament gives a unified testimony. The Gospels relate in simple narrative the events of Jesus’ resurrection. Some critical scholars want to emphasize the differences evident in the four narratives, but upon close examination, one can explain these variations. The book of Acts frequently mentions Jesus’ resurrection. When Peter preached at the feast of Pentecost, he said, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (). Later the risen Christ appeared to Saul, whom he renamed Paul. He said to Saul, “I am Jesus” (). As we read Acts we notice numerous testimonies regarding the risen Christ.
The various New Testament letters give a unified witness of Jesus’ resurrection. Paul said, “I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (). Peter mentioned the “resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (). John recorded the words of the risen Lord, “I am he that liveth, and was dead” ().
The New Testament references to Jesus’ resurrection are straightforward. There is no elaborate language and there are no adornments to the story, no visionary experiences. Another unique factor of the New Testament accounts is the verb tense. The biblical writers speak of Jesus after his death in the present tense. One notable example is Paul’s testimony of Jesus: “He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” ().
Several other unique factors can be seen in the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. The folded grave clothes prove that Jesus’ body had not been stolen. Scripture also carefully records that Jesus had scars on his body where he had been nailed to the cross. This clearly establishes evidence of his identity. Furthermore, his words and actions are recorded by Scripture, testifying that the Christ who died on the cross was truly alive.
If you desire to learn of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, make a serious study of Scripture. The Bible will convince you of the reality of the risen Lord. He is alive! The Bible tells us so.
III. The transformation of people.
When we observe how the risen Christ transformed people, we do not doubt the reality of the resurrection. Jesus made a difference in the lives of first-century disciples. The news of Jesus’ resurrection changed the attitudes of Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary.
Jesus changes temperaments. Before the resurrection, the disciples were fearful, disillusioned, disappointed, and depressed, but the risen Christ transformed their temperaments. Jesus can also transform the feelings of modern disciples, helping them to overcome disappointment and fear.
Jesus also dispels doubts. When Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas was absent. They told him of Jesus’ appearance to them, but Thomas doubted the resurrection. It seemed incredible to him. After seven days Jesus ministered especially to Thomas, dispelling Thomas’s doubts. In today’s world numerous people find the news of a risen Christ incredible. Yet Christ is able to minister to them by his Holy Spirit and by his Word, dispelling their doubts as he did for Thomas.
The risen Christ gives meaning and purpose to life. The apostles thought Jesus was the Old Testament Messiah. Basically their messianic concept was political. When Jesus did not restore Israel as in the days of David and reign as an earthly king, they lost their direction in life. But after his resurrection, Jesus taught them the real meaning of following him. No greater malady affects our world today than meaninglessness. Only the risen Christ can give our generation meaning and purpose.
Conclusion
Jesus’ resurrection is a reality, not an idle tale. The greatest proof of its authenticity is for you to open your life to the risen Lord and let him begin the process of changing your life.