“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:39-42)

The season of Easter is 50 days and runs from Easter Sunday through Pentecost.  In much the same way that the season of Epiphany provides an intentional period of time to allow the wonder of the Incarnation to settle on our souls, the season of Easter provides the same for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  These events (the birth and resurrection of Jesus) are momentous enough that they warrant their own particular days, but it takes time to begin to realize how truly transformative they were — for ourselves and for the world.

It can be easy for us to rocket past the stories of the appearances of Jesus after the Resurrection.  Each Gospel only gives a chapter or two to them (Mark skips them altogether, mentioning only the empty tomb).  But that brevity does not reduce their importance.  All of the Apostles place a lot of stress on the fact that they were eyewitnesses to the Resurrection.  John uses the word “see” eleven times in chapter 20 of his gospel.  In every one of his sermons in the book of Acts, Peter speaks of having seen Jesus.  In 1 Corinthians 15:3, Paul says that the bodily appearance of Jesus to the Apostles is of “first importance,” and goes on to list those appearances.  Adding them up, well over 500 people bore first-hand witness to the resurrection of Jesus.

This is important because it means that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is true.  Jesus was fully and truly dead, placed in a sealed tomb for 3 days, and then that stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty.  He was not only seen alive, but he was touched and embraced by hundreds of people.  It only takes three eye witnesses to attest legally to the truth of something, and here we have over 500 who saw him and dozens who touched him.  This is why Paul says that the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is “of first importance,” and this is why the Apostles repeatedly state that they saw Jesus alive after His resurrection.

If the resurrection is physically true, then it is the proof that what Jesus said He came to do is spiritually true.  The resurrection is the proof that Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross was effective, which means that all of our sins have been paid for.  The resurrection is the proof that Jesus defeated the power of death and mortality.  The resurrection is the proof that because He went from death to life, we too shall move from death to life.  The resurrection is the proof that not only do have hope in this life, but also in the life to come.  Because He lives, we too shall live.  If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then “your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)

But, the resurrection stories make clear that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead.  The stories are true.  That’s why the Apostles were so excited to tell everyone they could about Jesus.  That’s why 2,000 years later we’re still telling everyone we can about Jesus.  In the New Testament we find the Apostle’s  resurrection stories about Jesus.  What is your resurrection story?  How have you seen Him in your life?  How has He moved you from death into life?  In what ways has His resurrection given you strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow?  Take some time to reflect on those questions, and go tell someone about Him.  The news is good, because the news is true: The tomb is empty, our Savior lives, and because He lives, we too are able to live! 

The best stories, though, aren’t just the ones we tell, they’re the stories we live.  In Matthew 7, the difference between the wise and foolish builders is whether they followed Jesus obediently.  Jesus’ brother James writes, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” (James 2:14)  Paul picks up the idea of moving from death to life and says, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” (Romans 6:11-12)  Tell the story of the resurrected Jesus with what you say, but even more with how you live.

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. — John 20:30-31

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison