Wednesday: Witnesses of the Risen Christ
Read John 20:11-29 and 1 Corinthians 15:5-8. How did the disciples react when they first met the risen Christ?
The two angels at the empty tomb told Mary Magdalene and some other women that Jesus had risen (Matthew 28:1, Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-11). But soon Jesus Himself appeared to them, and they worshiped Him (Matthew 28:1, Matthew 28:9-10; John 20:14-18).
Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
He appeared also to Peter (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5) and to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, whose hearts were burning while He was speaking to them (Mark 16:12, Luke 24:13-35). When Jesus came into the Upper Room, the disciples were initially terrified and frightened but then filled with joy and marveled at what happened (Luke 24:33-49, John 20:19-23). A week later Jesus came again into the same room without opening the doors, and then even Thomas believed in His resurrection (John 20:24-29).
During the forty days between His resurrection and His ascension, Jesus “was seen by over five hundred brethren at once” (1 Corinthians 15:6, NKJV) and by James (1 Corinthians 15:7). Jesus joined some disciples at the shore of the Sea of Galilee and had breakfast with them, followed by a talk with Peter (John 21:1-23). There might have been other appearances of Jesus (Acts 1:3) before His final one at His ascension (Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-11). Paul considered himself also an eyewitness to the risen Christ, who appeared to him on the road to Damascus (1 Corinthians 15:8; compare with Acts 9:1-9).
When the other disciples first told the absent Thomas that they had seen the risen Lord, he reacted, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25, NKJV). A week later, when Jesus reappeared to the disciples, now with Thomas among them, Jesus said to him, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27, NKJV).
Then Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God!”
And Jesus added, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29, NKJV).
| “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Even if you have not seen for yourself the resurrected Christ, what other reasons do you have for your faith in Jesus? |
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There is no doubt that Jesus was seen by a large number of witnesses after his resurrection. So the event was either a well-planned and organized hoax, or it was true. Given the state of relationships between the disciples before the crucifixion, I doubt that they had the cohesiveness to pull off such a hoax.
However, I reiterate that it is an almost impossible task to "prove" the resurrection and non-believers will simply continue to non-believe no matter what arguments and evidence we present to them.
That puts us in the position of proving the risen Saviour by the way we live. The Gospel is not about having ownership of the best explanation, or piles of evidence. Some church organizations have so-called relics of the time; the burial shroud, pieces of wood from the cross, nails, and so on. When subject to scientific evidence, these have proven to be not genuine. The danger is that Christianity itself is being considered a hoax because people who call themselves Christian are not acting like it.
We stand appalled by the actions of those who have called themselves Christian in history but is it time to examine ourselves and ask what has happened to humility, tolerance, understanding, and selflessness in our interaction with others?
What is the point of having the best "state of the dead" doctrine if we cannot show compassion to the living? Why do we have the best "Day of Rest" doctrine if we cannot provide rest to the troubled and weary?
We live in the twenty-first century and the need for a risen Saviour is just as pertinent as it was in the first century. We need to be witnesses in our horizon of interest. That is our calling!
Hi Maurice gm, from New York, please I would like your response😇. Since the scriptures had not revealed how the saints were taken to heaven how should I present this truth to persons who are not seventh day adventis
Just tell them that the Bible does not tell us. We do not need to pretend to know everything.
Ronald, this is a quote I came across from EGW. Seems to have some applicability to your inquiry to Maurice
"To the curious, I bear the message that God has instructed me not to frame answers to the questions of those who enquire in regard to the things that have not been revealed. The things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children. Beyond this, human beings are not to attempt to go. We are not to attempt to explain that which God has not revealed. We are to study the revelation that Christ, the Great Teacher, has given of the character of God, that in spirit and word and act we may represent Him to those who know Him not."
"We need to study the simplicity of Christ's teachings. He urges the need of prayer and humility. These are our safeguards against the erroneous reasoning by which Satan seeks to lead us to turn aside to other gods, and to accept misleading theories, clothed by him in garments of light.—Manuscript 132, November 8, 1903, “God's Chosen People,” written during the pantheism crisis.
From The Upward Look - Page 326"
Hopefully, this will be helpful.
Myron
Thank you myron norman for the worthy input.
Unlike doubting Thomas, I haven’t met Jesus physically. I didn’t even see His backside like Moses (Exodus 33:23). But, I do have other reasons for my faith in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:7 teaches me to trust in the Lord. Three reasons for instance: (1) keep moving when living in a sinful world. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase”. (2) there is more than what can be seen that is more important (2 Corinthians 4:18). And, (3) to trust God when we question if He is even listening. But, my favorite reason to have faith in Jesus is the transformation of character. We were lost, but now found (Luke 15:24). We bury our sins by baptism and live for God by the help of the Holy Spirit to turn our lives around for the Glory of God.
I haven't seen Christ, but I have seen Christians. I haven't seen resurrected people, but I've seen people with renewed lives. I haven't seen the hands and the side of the Saviour, but I've seen many doing good things because they understood Jesus' sacrifice for them. Even today Jesus continues to astonish and attract people to Himself, His miracles continue to appear day after day! Have you noticed any miracle in your life? Miracle is what you are doing right now!
AMEN JC!!
Yes. Our life must be a reflection from Jesus teachings. We are the living bible that others see us. I pray all to follow what God commands, share it to others so everybody will see in heaven when Jesus come again.
Well, as far as "Must Be," I would say that it "Should Be." I mean look at what happened to the Apostle Peter when he asked Jesus to let him "Walk on water like Jesus was doing." Yes, Jesus let Peter do this, but then Peter sank and Jesus had to help Peter walk again with Him on top of the waters. So, yes our life "Should be a reflection of Jesus." And Jesus will help us with "Our best efforts to do this," but if we fail, He is there to help us get back on track with Him.
Again, it was when Jesus died and still hanging on the cross (and Not after He arose from the grave Himself) that there were graves of fallen asleep saints that arose and went to visit live followers of Jesus, Matthew 27:51-53. I am sure that these risen saints stayed around, along with Lazarus, during Jesus' 40 days after His resurrection and then went to heaven with Him at His ascension. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the Apostle John was translated without seeing death at the Island of Patmos after He wrote the book of Revelation.
Pete, that text in Matthew is a bit ambiguous when we read it from our perspective.
What makes total sense is that many tombs were broken open during the earthquake accompanying Christ's death. All translations seem clear on that.
All translations also indicate that saints that had fallen asleep were "coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many."
So we know that tombs were broken open during the earthquake accompanying Christ's death. We also know that saints were resurrected and appeared to many in "the holy city," that is Jerusalem.
What is not totally clear is when these saints were resurrected. It wouldn't make a lot of sense for them to be resurrected and stay in the tombs on Friday and Sabbath until after Christ was resurrected on Sunday.
Rather, it seems that many tombs were split open on Friday, and the saints were resurrected on Sunday. (The original language didn't necessarily have the punctuation and conjunctions we have in the English language.)
This morning I was reading the wonderful chapter, "The Lord Is Risen" in the Desire of Ages and found this, which corroborates the common-sense reading.
You can check this in your own copy of the Desire of Ages , or you can read the chapter "He Is Risen" for free at the EGWwritings site.
Thanks, Inge Anderson. But even EGW counsels us to go more by Bible and Bible only than by what she or any other writer that does not comprise as part of The Bible. She even writes that she could have had errors in what she wrote. I do agree that the scripture in Matthew is rather ambiguous and that it does indicate Jesus' resurrection along with the saints that arose from their tombs as it also indicates these risen saints along with Jesus dying moment while still at the cross.
It would appear that Thomas did not put his finger in Christ's side as He asked him to, what a rebuke Jesus gave for the unbelief!
I'm so glad, Bro. Maurice, that you said, "ALMOST impossible ..." Yes, our lives may be a true and powerful witness to the life of our Risen Redeemer.
Praise God for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
I have been reminded, frequently during these pandemic years (Dec. 2019- Nov. 2022), that we too - along with our many deceased relatives and friends, that, "Yet a little while longer," and we too will experience the joy of that resurrection, if we are faithful (1John 3: 1,2).
You have my attention, Lord. I believe and accept the call to be a witness for You.
John 20:26-29; John 14: 19-20