04/08/2012
EASTER MORNING – THE RESURRECTION
The importance of Jesus’ death is surpassed only the by the Good News of His Resurrection!
Jesus has prophesied that He will live again, and therefore His credibility is in jeopardy if He is now unable to demonstrate power over His own death. That very claim, and its’ obvious implications, has already prompted the Jewish leaders to demand a Roman guard at the tomb.
The events which follow are nothing short of marvelous. They not only confirm Jesus credibility but also provide for believers the assurance of life after death. The drama of Jesus’ reappearance unfolds with initial fear, amazement, and outright disbelief on the part of the disciples, but thereafter turns to both belief and joyous celebration. His reappearance is not merely an apparition from the spirit world: Jesus eats in their presence and invites them to touch the wounds where His hands were nailed to the cross. He appears not only in Jerusalem immediately after His Resurrection but also later in Galilee. Jesus’ appearance is no mere figment of their imagination. This IS Jesus Himself!
The Gospel writers begin their accounts of the resurrection as the stone sealing the tomb is rolled away. Several of the women come to the tomb early Sunday morning, only to find it empty. When angels at the tomb tell them that Jesus has been raised from the dead, the women react with both fear and joy. At that point the chronology of events becomes somewhat complex, but it appears that Mary Magdalene runs ahead of the other women to find Peter and John, who, upon being told of the body’s disappearance, rush with Mary to the empty tomb. As Peter and John go away greatly perplexed, Jesus Himself appears to Mary Magdalene there by the tomb, and then to the other women who are still on their way back from the tomb to tell of the resurrection. Of course, Jesus’ appearance to Mary and the other women gives them even more to tell about, but when the disciples hear it, they simply cannot bring themselves to believe it.
Although there is no direct record of it, apparently Jesus makes a special appearance to Peter sometime on Sunday. The other apostles make reference to that appearance as they are discussing the resurrection later that night with a disciple named Cleopas, to whom Jesus had appeared during the same day. Finally, on this day of resurrection, Jesus will be seen to appear to all the other apostles except for Thomas, who is not present at the time. Thomas’ subsequent disbelief is dispelled a week later, when Jesus again appears to the apostles and Thomas views Jesus in person. The apostles will be with Jesus on several occasions, both in Jerusalem and further north in Galilee, before He gives them their apostolic commission and parting instructions.
Sense now the quietness and anticipation of the morning of this ultimate miracle – the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ!
Stone Rolled Away – Mt. 28:2-47
Women Come to Tomb – Mk. 16:1-4
Resurrection Announced – Mk. 16:5-7
Women Reminded of Prophecy – Lk. 24:4-8
Women Go Away Fearful – Mk. 16:8
Peter and John Told – Jn. 20:2
Peter and John View the Tomb – Jn. 20:3-10
Jesus with Mary Magdalene – Mk. 16:9, Jn. 20:11-17
Jesus Appears to Women – Mt. 28:8-10
Chief Priests Cover Up – Mt. 28:11-15
Women Tell of Appearance - Lk. 24:9-11
Jesus Appears to Cleopas – Lk. 24:13-27
Jesus’ Identity Revealed – Lk. 24:28-32
Cleopas Tells of Appearance – Lok. 24:33-35, Jn. 20:19
Jesus Appears to Disciples – Lk. 24:36-44
Apostles Receive Authority – Jn. 20:21-23
Thomas Doubts – Jn. 20:24, 25
Jesus Appears to Thomas – Jn. 20:26-29
Jesus Appears to Disciples – Jn. 21:1-14
Peter Reinstated – Jn. 21:15-17
Peter’s Death Foretold – Jn. 21:18, 19
John’s Death Questioned – Jn. 21:20-24
