Stunned by the Resurrection

The resurrection of Christ is a grand, glorious fact of history—and it has ripple effects:  all who are trusting in Jesus will follow him into resurrection joy one day beyond the grave (1 Cor. 15:23).

But before the fact, Jesus’ promise of resurrection didn’t register.  He predicted several times that he’d both die and be raised, but it didn’t seem to “click” for his followers:

“The Son of Man must suffer many things … and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).  “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him.  And when he is killed, after three days he will rise” (Mark 9:31).  The authorities “will mock [the Son of Man] and spit on him, and flog him and kill him.  And after three days he will rise” (Mark 10:34).

Yet when that third day comes, no one really expects Jesus to return to life!  The eleven disciples huddle in fear behind closed doors (John 20:19).  And the women who venture out, go to the tomb intending to anoint a dead body (Mark 16:1).  And when the risen Jesus actually appears to the disciples, “some doubted” (Matt. 28:17)—so doubting Thomas wasn’t alone (John 20:27).

There are two vital take-aways here for us:  1) Humble yourself before the Lord.  You are not above the bungling of those first disciples.  Peter’s denial is our story; Thomas’s doubting is our struggle.  This side of heaven we get stuck in earth-bound thinking and follow Jesus in a faltering way.  Admit it.  Confess it to him.

2) Christ’s relentless love to pursue his bumbling followers (back then and right now) is amazing!  His mercies are new every morn­ing.  Jesus invites Thomas to touch the wounds.  Jesus calls Peter aside and kindly restores his fallen apostle.  The risen Lord gently corrects two downcast disciples who wouldn’t believe the report they’d heard that he was alive (Luke 24:25).  And the living Christ comes to us today, extending forgiveness and instilling hope!