Looking to the Resurrection
Written by David W. Hegg | Senior Pastor
Today, when we think of the Gospel, we most often turn to the cross. In fact, the cross has become the symbol of faith in Jesus and Christianity in general. But for the men who were first charged with the privilege of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God, it was the empty tomb, the miraculous resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, that took center stage.
“If you began in Acts 1 and traced the Apostles’ preaching through the book, you would find that the primary element in its message was the reality of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.”
As the eleven gathered in Acts 1 to choose Judas’ successor, there was one requirement: “One of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection” (1:22). In Acts 2, Peter’s explanation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit allowed him to present the story of Jesus: “This Jesus God raised up of which we are all witnesses” (2:31,32). When Peter and John healed the lame man near the Temple, Peter addressed the crowd that gathered in awe this way: “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead” (3:14,15). The message continues in Act 4:1,2, where we read, “And as (the Apostles) were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” And Peter continued to be all about the resurrection in his defense before the governmental authorities (5:29,30) and his address to Cornelius (10:39,40).
And as the focus shifts from Peter to Paul, we find that the resurrection of Jesus continues to be an essential element in the Gospel message (see: 13:28-30; 17:30,31; 23:6; 26:22,23). Perhaps the clearest evidence that the Apostolic gospel mission was grounded in the resurrection is the fact that Paul spent the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 expounding not only the reality of the event but the dynamic and essential role it plays in the Gospel of Jesus Christ itself.
And why is this? Simply because without the resurrection, the cross was simply martyrdom. Without the empty tomb, Jesus would be remembered as a minor prophet who said and did some good things during a short ministry a long time ago. It is certain few would know about him, even fewer would dedicate their lives to living out his legacy, and no one would have attempted to build a religion around him. And if someone did, as Paul says, those who followed him would “have hope in this life only” and be “of all people most to be pitied.”
As we approach Resurrection Sunday, it can be greatly rewarding to prepare our hearts to gain the full perspective on just how epic that morning was in a burial ground outside the city walls of Jerusalem. The story is told in triplicate in Luke 24.
First, early in the morning, the women went bringing spices to permanently prepare the hastily entombed body of Jesus. Their concern over their ability to roll the stone away gave way to great confusion and fear when they saw the tomb open and empty. But immediately, they were confronted by the angels who demanded, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” And as the angelic messengers continued to instruct them, they suddenly realized the truth: Jesus was risen from the dead!
“They had been confused, then confronted, and now instructed, and their only response was to share the good news.”
Later, two followers of Jesus were walking the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Soon Jesus joined them, but they did not recognize him. He asked them why they were so downtrodden. As they explained what had happened to Jesus of Nazareth, it was clear they were very confused. But instead of consoling them, Jesus confronted their confusion. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” After confronting them, he began instructing them. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Later, they realized it was Jesus. They had been mired in confusion and then confronted and instructed, and finally, they simply had to return to Jerusalem and share the good news
Finally, when the twelve disciples were together, suddenly Jesus himself stood among them, and they were confused and afraid. Again, instead of consoling them, Jesus confronted them: “Why are you so troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” They had been greatly confused and were now confronted. And yes, then Jesus went on to instruct them. “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” And then Luke writes, “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Three times Luke tells the story of the effect of the resurrection on those who came face to face with Jesus. Three times they were confused, then confronted, and instructed from Scripture that the resurrection was an essential element in the Gospel story. And in the first two stories, those whose eyes were opened to the majesty of Jesus’ resurrection ran to share the good news.
When I first discovered this triple telling of the story, I wondered why, unlike the first two episodes, the disciples in the third one did not run off to tell others about the miracle of the empty tomb.
And then I remembered that Luke wrote a second volume…the Book of Acts! There he chronicles the ongoing activities of the Risen Christ Jesus through his Apostles and the church they helped to build.
And so, as we look forward to Resurrection Sunday, let us also open our hearts to the realization that the death of Christ was always part of God’s redemptive plan and that the Resurrection was always the event that should energize and mobilize our desire to share the good news.
We all share the same story. At some point in our lives, we were very confused about spiritual things. And then, during some period in our lives, we were confronted with the truth that God is real, that sin brings death, and there was nothing we could do about it ourselves.
“Then, in a series of circumstances unique to each of us, our minds were instructed in the truth of the Gospel, our eyes were opened to our own sin and the beauty of forgiveness and salvation in Christ, and we were off and running to Jesus!”
And now, as we celebrate the majesty of the empty tomb, may we, like the brothers and sisters of Luke 24, be ready, willing, and able to share the life-transforming news: God the Son Incarnate, the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth…has risen from the dead!