Be Confident of the Resurrection
Luke 24:15, 18-27, 30-35
Which biblical truth concerning Jesus is the most important? They all mesh seamlessly and rise or fall together. Who He is, where He came from, what He said and what He did – it’s all important because, as part of the Godhead, His existence and identity define reality and eternity both inside and outside of the universe and time itself. But the resurrection does stand out as the primary validation of the truth of His message and the nature of His identity.
Today, we have the luxury of well-studied Scripture and centuries of Holy Spirit-enabled understanding. But what about those who were immediate to the scene of His life as it unfolded in real time? How confused would they have been when their perceived Messiah was killed? How much more disoriented and confused would they have been when they heard that the body was missing and once they heard the story about angels testifying to His resurrection? I don’t think modern or casual Christians can comprehend the shock-and-awe impact of those days. For us, the resurrection is a done deal. For them, the reports of it were breaking, emergent and confusing.
On the Sunday after the crucifixion, two followers of Jesus leave Jerusalem and head for a small town some miles away. They are talking about Jesus when He just walks up to them. They don’t recognize Him, and the three begin traveling together. As they keep moving, He asks what they had been discussing. They stop, surprised that this stranger hasn’t heard of the commotion and hubbub in Jerusalem over the weekend. He asks them to explain things to Him, and then He begins explaining things to them. Eventually they complete what was probably a several-hour walk-and-talk.
Over supper, they recognize Him. Then He leaves! They have kind of a “duh” moment, wondering why they have been so dense. Now that they can verify the resurrection, they get back on the road instead of going to bed, and retrace their steps to Jerusalem to give the blockbuster news to the apostles and others.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ may be ancient history, but it is history. There was a day on which it was headline news. It was an actual event that happened in a real place, in real time. He interacted with multiple people who had apparently been ready to go back into small-town obscurity after His disappointing “end.” His resurrection resurrected their devotion and passion and propelled them into His ministry with confidence and conviction. Neither could be convincingly faked. Jesus’ resurrection proves His identity and manifests the kind of power almighty God ought to have.
– The ETB writer for the spring quarter is a South Carolinian who formerly served Southern Baptists in a closed country. We are honoring his request not to publish identifying information.