9.

Risen

Jesus was given an honoured burial by those who loved Him. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Jewish ruling council, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and prepared it for burial. Jesus’ body was laid in a tomb, and a large stone sealed the entrance.

But on the morning on the third day, that first Easter Sunday, the tomb was empty. Jesus had risen.

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Early on Easter morning, a group of women went to the tomb to pack spices around the body of Jesus. They knew that the tomb had been sealed with a stone and they were wondering who might help them to get in. But when they arrived, they found that the stone had been rolled away and that the tomb was empty. Mary Magdalene was so distressed that she left the other women at the tomb and ran to tell Peter and John.

Later, Mary Magdalene returned to the empty tomb and wept. But her grief was turned to joy when Jesus appeared to her and called her by name. She went and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:16, 18). The disciples were perplexed at this news.

The Lord then appeared to Peter, and to two disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus.

On the evening of that first Easter day, when the disciples were huddled together behind locked doors (Luke 24:36-43).

The disciples’ first reaction was to think that they were seeing a ghost. But then they heard Jesus speak: the first word Jesus spoke to these frightened disciples was peace. They all knew they had failed their Master. But the risen Lord gave them peace. They touched Him. They ate with Him. They saw His hands and feet. Jesus, who had been crucified, had risen from the dead.

Thomas struggled to believe (John 20:25). Jesus said to him:

“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27). 

What else was there for Thomas to do than to fall on his knees and confess, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)?

Jesus did not write Thomas off because he refused to believe. He reached out to Thomas and led him to faith.

The Christian faith is not a blind leap in the dark, John tells us that these events are written down in the Bible ‘so that we may believe… and have life in His name’ (John 20:31). The compelling evidence on which we can take a reasoned step of faith in Jesus is placed before us in the Gospels. Thomas saw the hands and side of Jesus, and believed. We have not had that opportunity, but we do have His Word. Let’s see the compelling evidence in His Word, and like Thomas say “My Lord and my God’. 

Luke 24 : 1-49

The Resurrection

1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marvelling at what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognising him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognised him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

  • Why do you think the disciples were perplexed at the news that Mary ‘had seen the Lord’?
  • Have you ever said, as Thomas did, “I will never believe”? If so, why?
  • On a scale of 1 (weak) to 10 (compelling), what would you say about the evidence presented here for Jesus’ resurrection? Why did you answer the way you did?

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