The Proof of the Resurrection
“The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is one of the best attested facts on record. There were so many witnesses to behold it, that if we do in the least degree receive the credibility of men's testimonies, we cannot and we dare not doubt that Jesus rose from the dead.”— Charles Spurgeon
One of the things used mostly against Christendom is the “Proof” of the Resurrection of Christ. The accusation of the disciples “stealing” the body of Christ still permeates the voices of resurrection deniers. However, there are several accounts after the resurrection where Jesus is seen.
There are different beliefs among theologians at how many times Christ was witnessed after the resurrection. The Synoptic Gospels were written around 100 A.D. They were written from the actual scrolls of the author. They are 100% accurate, and are part of the eternal, infallible, and perfect Word of God. Each of the authors (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) may include different stories concerning their own personal relationship with Christ as they walked and talked with Him. Just because they have different experiences, or may have different ways of telling similar stories, none of them negate or contradict the other. It is because of these different experiences of the disciples that we sometimes get different numbers of times that Jesus was seen after the resurrection.
It is one of these sightings that has always intrigued me. In Luke’s gospel we find the story of the two followers of Christ walking on the road to Emmaus. They were talking in amazement of all the things that they had recently experienced. As they were walking and talking, a third Man appeared to them. Luke says that their “eyes” would not allow them to see who the third Man was.
How many times does the events in our lives blind us from realizing that Christ is always with us and dwelling in us by the Holy Spirit. These men were allowing their true doubt to bleed through in their discussions. Jesus asked them what they were talking about. They had the opportunity to express their overwhelming joy about the resurrection of the Christ. Instead of worshiping His resurrection, they spoke of the things that were told to them by others. They should have had faith that after three days Christ would rise from the grave as He promised.
Jesus asked them if it was necessary for the Christ to go through what all He suffered. Then He taught them all of His Word, from “Moses and the Prophets” and all things to do with Christ during His 3½ year ministry.
The men asked Christ to stay with them because the daylight was ending, and as Christ broke bread with them, their eyes were opened to see Christ. Immediately Christ disappeared and the men professed of how their “hearts burned within them” as He spoke to them. They ran back to the disciples and told all that they had seen.
Christ is Risen! The heart burns within the believer when He speaks. Why do we let our lack of faith stand in the way of us understanding Him? All we have to do is listen to His voice and obey His command.
- Keith Arp
Comentários