Suppose someone you thought was dead showed up a few days after the funeral? What would be your reaction? For some the initial response would be fear? Others would be skeptical. They would demand proof that the person they saw was not a ghost or a figment of their imagination. The evidence would need to be clear and undeniable. Then and only then would they believe that what they saw was not just a hallucination.
This was dilemma that the disciples faced on the day of the resurrection. They had witnessed the crucifixion in all of its gory detail. Now, they were being asked to believe that the man they saw crucified and buried was indeed alive.
Theirs was a circumstance of hope lost and found again. They were cautious before accepting this new truth demanding to consider the testimony before they believed.
It is the same with anyone who has participated in what seems to have been a failed experience. When reassured that all is not lost we want to be sure, by the testimony, that the evidence is clear and the assurance is sound.
In the case of the resurrection of Jesus the evidence of his death was certain. These 11 men were with him in the garden when the temple guards came to seize him.
They were close by when he was tried by the Sanhedrin Council and found guilty.
They were close by when Herod mocked and ridiculed him.
They were in the crowd when Pilate handed him over to the soldiers for crucifixion.
They watched as he carried a cross toward Golgotha.
They watched as he was nailed to the cross and lifted up high.
They were present when he gave up the ghost and died.
They saw him buried in a freshly hewn tomb.
They saw the stone rolled in front of the tomb and guards placed in front of the tomb.
For the disciples there was considerable evidence of Christ’s death. What they needed to breathe new energy into their hopes and dreams was testimony and evidence that he was truly alive.
They received their evidence in three different testimonies that resulted in the disciples being glad instead of sad.
Similarly, today there are thousands who face the prospect of failure, defeat and hopelessness. The message of the resurrection is that despite what seems to be lost, hope is still alive, failure can be overcome, and the power of God has not been conquered. Like the disciples, we look for evidence and the events of resurrection provide the testimony.
Theirs was a circumstance of hope lost and found again. They were cautious before accepting this new truth demanding to consider the testimony before they believed.
It is the same with anyone who has participated in what seems to have been a failed experience. When reassured that all is not lost we want to be sure, by the testimony, that the evidence is clear and the assurance is sound.
In the case of the resurrection of Jesus the evidence of his death was certain. These 11 men were with him in the garden when the temple guards came to seize him.
They were close by when he was tried by the Sanhedrin Council and found guilty.
They were close by when Herod mocked and ridiculed him.
They were in the crowd when Pilate handed him over to the soldiers for crucifixion.
They watched as he carried a cross toward Golgotha.
They watched as he was nailed to the cross and lifted up high.
They were present when he gave up the ghost and died.
They saw him buried in a freshly hewn tomb.
They saw the stone rolled in front of the tomb and guards placed in front of the tomb.
For the disciples there was considerable evidence of Christ’s death. What they needed to breathe new energy into their hopes and dreams was testimony and evidence that he was truly alive.
They received their evidence in three different testimonies that resulted in the disciples being glad instead of sad.
Similarly, today there are thousands who face the prospect of failure, defeat and hopelessness. The message of the resurrection is that despite what seems to be lost, hope is still alive, failure can be overcome, and the power of God has not been conquered. Like the disciples, we look for evidence and the events of resurrection provide the testimony.
Sincerely,
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