We Saw It, But We Don't Really Believe It!

“On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.”

Seeing is believing, except when we don’t understand what we are looking at. Even writing that sentence makes me think of the famous line uttered by Chico Marx in the movie, “Duck Soup.” Speaking to a woman who questioned what he was doing there since she had seen him leave the room only moments before, Chico said, “Who ya’ gonna’ believe? Me? Or your own eyes?” [2] Sometimes, what we see doesn’t fit with our experience, and we can’t believe what we are seeing. However, because we have never experienced something before does not mean that the event is a figment of our imagination.

Admittedly, believing that Jesus rose from the dead denies human experience, defies logic. It is impossible to believe that the Son of God conquered death, hell, and the grave if God Himself does not reveal this truth to us. If believing that the dead can come to life is difficult, should we be surprised that the disciples of Jesus struggled to accept that He did precisely what He said He would do?

The message of the first disciples was centred on the fact that Jesus was crucified, buried, and that He had risen from the dead. In Thessalonica, Paul preached Christ risen from the dead. Doctor Luke reports, “Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with [those in the synagogue in Thessalonica] from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’ And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women” [ACTS 17:2-4].

And it should encourage us that “some of them were persuaded.” When the message of Christ was proclaimed in that city, some who heard believed, just as some will always believe as we tell them that Jesus has conquered death, and that He now offers this same resurrection power to all who willingly receive Him as Master over life.

In Athens, compelled to address Epicurean and Stoic philosophers gathered in the Areopagus, the Apostle to the Gentiles declared the message of life. As he drew his address to a close, he testified, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” [ACTS 17:30-31]. To be certain, when they heard of the resurrection from the dead, some mocked and others hesitated. However, we read that some believed [see ACTS 17:34].

The Spirit of Jesus always works through the people of God as they declare the life that is offered to all through faith in the Risen Lord of Glory. And you who believe can be assured that this same Spirit works in you as you tell others of the life God offers through faith in His Risen Son. Let this knowledge encourage you that Christ lives, and His Spirit lives in you who believe, and He is working in power in your life. Amen.

WHAT THE DISCIPLES WITNESSED — “On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed” [JOHN 20:1-9].