9. Risen

It is hard to be certain of the exact order of events on Easter morning because each of the Gospel writers focuses on different aspects of the story.

Early in the morning, a group of women went to the tomb to pack spices around the body of Jesus (Luke 24:1). They knew that the tomb had been sealed with a stone and they were wondering who might help them to get in (Mark 16:3). But when they arrived, they found that the stone had been rolled away and that the tomb was empty (Luke 24:2–3).

Mary Magdalene was so distressed that she left the other women at the tomb and ran to tell Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” ( John 20:2).

When Peter heard this news, he ran to the tomb and, finding it empty, he “went away, wondering to himself what had happened” (Luke 24:12 niv). The other disciples seem to have had a similar reaction. When they first heard that Jesus had risen, “these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11).

While Mary Magdalene was gone, an angel appeared to the women who remained at the tomb, and said,

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)

Mark records that “they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8).

Again, it is difficult to be certain about the exact sequence of events, but this seems to be the most likely reconstruction. What is clear, beyond question, is that the tomb was empty and that the disciples came to faith through multiple encounters with the risen Lord.

The resurrection appearances

The disciples knew that the tomb was empty, and the angels had announced that Jesus had risen from the dead. But no one had yet seen the risen Lord.

Mary Magdalene returned to the empty tomb and wept. But her grief was turned to joy when Jesus appeared to her and called her by name. She went and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” ( John 20:16, 18). This was the first resurrection appearance.

Meanwhile, the women who had remained at the tomb were so terrified by the appearance of the angel that they fled. But on the way, “Jesus met them” (Matthew 28:9). This was the second appear- ance of the risen Lord.

The Lord then appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5), and to two disciples who were walking on the road to Em- maus (Luke 24:13–35). These were the third and fourth resurrection appearances.

The fifth appearance took place on the evening of that first Easter day, when the disciples were huddled together behind locked doors.

Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. (Luke 24:36–43)

Notice that the disciples’ first reaction was to think that they were seeing a ghost. But then they heard Jesus speak. They touched Him. They ate with Him. They saw His hands and feet. Jesus, who had been crucified, had risen from the dead.

The first word Jesus spoke to these frightened disciples was peace. All of them had forsaken Jesus when He was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. They all knew they had failed their Master. But the risen Lord gave them peace.

Thomas was not present when the other disciples saw the Lord. He said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails . . . and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” ( John 20:25).

Eight days later our Lord appeared for the sixth time. The disciples were together, and this time Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:26)

Thomas had said that he would not believe unless there was overwhelming evidence, and Jesus gave it to him: “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side” ( John 20:27).

Jesus knew everything about Thomas, including his unbelief. But He still wanted Thomas to be His disciple. So, Jesus said to him, “Do not disbelieve, but believe” ( John 20:27). What else was there for Thomas to do than to fall on his knees and confess, “My Lord and my God!” ( John 20:28)?

Jesus did not write Thomas off because he refused to believe. He reached out to Thomas and led him to faith. Maybe you have struggled with faith. Perhaps you have felt that you could not believe. Jesus is ready to do the same for you.

So, how do we encounter the risen Lord? John answers that question directly.

These are written so 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 20:31)

Christian faith is not a blind leap in the dark. The compelling evidence on which we can take a reasoned step of faith in Jesus is placed before us in the Gospels. Thomas saw the hands and side of Jesus. We have not had that opportunity. But Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” ( John 20:29).

The resurrection body

Jesus promised that all who believe in Him will share in His resurrection:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)

All religions have some idea of life after death. But the resur- rection is unique to Christianity. The good news is not simply that Jesus is alive, but that Jesus has risen! It is worth thinking about the difference.

The Son of God was alive in heaven before He took human flesh. So why did He not simply leave His crucified body in the tomb and return to the Father? After all, it was only flesh and bone. Why bother with it?

The angels could still have appeared on Easter morning and said, “His body is here in the tomb, but don’t worry, His spirit is with the Father in heaven.” After all, isn’t that precisely what we say at a funeral when a Christian dies?

But that’s not what we find in the Gospels. Jesus said,

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)

Human beings are a marvelous union of soul and body, and Jesus came into the world not to save a part of us, but to redeem the whole of us. He came to bring us, soul and body, into the joy of His presence forever.