You are at the scene of an accident where two cars are wrecked, but thankfully no personal injuries took place. You begin to ask those who witnessed it what happened, only to hear what appears to be varying accounts. They all witnessed the same event, only from different angles. So it is with our Scripture readings that Abe picked out for today. Our focus is the resurrection of Christ as it is seen through three of the gospels. Each author, as he was guided by the Holy Spirit, pens details that others do not mention. And when we weave these details together, we are better able to visualize, with greater depth, His glorious resurrection day.
We read in Mark 8:31 that Jesus had taught “them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected…be killed, and after three days rise again.” Even so, they did not fully understand. The doubt that seems to always be pinned on Thomas, was something the other disciples battled with as well. After His resurrection, Jesus walked with two of them whose eyes were restrained so they did not know it was Jesus. They shared with Him that they “were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). Doubt is all too easy of a trap, especially when things don’t seem to be going as you think they should.
What fascinates me, is the way we see Jesus revealing Himself in these accounts of His resurrection and the days that followed. The guards who witnessed the stone being moved and His resurrection (Matthew 28:4). Mary, who saw Jesus at the tomb (John 20:16). Jesus suddenly appearing to them, enabling them to clearly see He is resurrected (Luke 24:39), even eating food before them, seemingly to prove He is in bodily form. Luke writes, “And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).\
You see, they were to be “witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48) along with “over five hundred brethren” (1st Corinthians 15:6) concerning the resurrected Christ. The power of the Gospel is in the resurrected Christ, there is no denying that fact. But God, knowing mankind’s tendency to question, put things in place so the facts of the historical event of His resurrection could be revealed and trusted. Thank you, God, for the evidences you have provided us and help strengthen us, Lord, to be Your witnesses also.
Dennis
