Because He Lives
I want to pick up where we left off last week in the story of Christ and the cross. The scene seems almost chaotic, but it was all part of God’s plan. Here are a couple of details we did not cover. After Jesus told the apostles “all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night” (Matthew 26:31), we know that Peter confidently opposed such a thought, saying, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble” (Luke 26:33). I have used those words before, you know, “I will never…” But if you go down just two verses, you know that Peter was not the only one with such confidence, for “so said all the disciples” (Luke 26:35). Remember, this is during that last supper meal, just before the cross. During this time Jesus quoted the prophet Zechariah (11:12-13) who prophesied of Judas, “he who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me” (John 13:18). This would all take place with a simple kiss by Judas (Luke 22:47). So distraught for what he had done, seeing the condemnation which was brought upon Jesus because of his actions, Judas took his own life (Matthew 27:3-5).
Although the disciples had been with Jesus for three years, heard His teachings and witnessed His miracles, they were oblivious to the true hope of the gospel; that is the resurrection. Jesus had said to them explicitly, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 17:22-23). He had spoken of this previously as well (Matthew 16:21) and again, Peter had refused to accept it (Matthew 16:22). What is interesting about those words found in Matthew 17:22-23, are the words that follow, “And they were exceedingly sorrowful” (Matthew 17:23). The loss of Jesus simply did not fit into their understanding of their king, let alone the kingdom they were expecting. Nonetheless, His death on the cross happened and we see Peter “weeping bitterly” after his betrayal of Jesus. This brings us to the hope of the gospel, His resurrection!
“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” (Luke 24:6-7)
The ladies who had gone to the tomb first and were told by the angel, “But go, tell His disciples-and Peter…” (Mark 16:7). Tell them what? The most important part of the gospel, “He is risen!” (Mark 16:6). This was all part of God’s plan. It started to click with these women (Luke 24:8) so “they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest” (Luke 24:9). How were their words received? “And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11). Belief. It is sometimes easier said than done, right? Here are individuals who, for three years, walked with Jesus and saw everything He had done. They even witnessed those He had raised from the dead like the ruler’s daughter in Matthew 9:23-26, the widow’s son (Luke 7:14-15) and Lazarus in John 11:43. Yet Jesus’ own resurrection seemed beyond their ability to grasp. To be honest, I can understand their struggle. There is a difference between knowing the story and being convicted of its reality: something the bible calls faith. What is at the core of the gospel, is the empty tomb, which is “foolish to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1st Corinthians 1:18). If Christ is not risen, we are but fools ourselves, without hope and to be pitied by all (1st Corinthians 15:19). But we do have hope, for the tomb was empty that faithful day. Peter saw the risen Christ, the rest of the twelve saw Him, some five hundred others saw Him, and then of course, Paul saw Him as well (1st Corinthians 15:3-8).
Why is the empty tomb so important? I could provide numerous reasons, but the one that stands out to me is penned by the apostle Paul who said, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2nd Corinthians 5:14-15). What compelled the apostle Paul? You would be right to say it was the love of Christ. But what is that love rooted in? It is rooted in his conviction that Christ died for him and rose victoriously. Everything they did and everything we do is because He Lives! As they say, the rest is history. Some two thousand years have passed since that day and countless lives have been changed for all eternity. My life and hopefully yours as well. And its all because He Is Risen.
Biddeford Church of Christ 