A few weeks ago we joined Christians around the world in reflecting on the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection is such a cardinal teaching that the entire Christian hope stands on it. It is no wonder that from the time of Christ to today people have sought to discredit the resurrection either in subtle ways or in more direct and brash ways. People’s view of the resurrection is seen in the way they respond to the message. My dear brother Ben Straub preached a brilliant sermon showing four different responses to the resurrection of Christ by the eyewitness of that day.
The Guards
After the death of Jesus and his subsequent burial, the Sanhedrin (the council responsible for his death) requested for guards to be posted at the entrance to the tomb as they feared the disciples might come and steal his body since they remembered that Jesus had said he would rise from the dead.
After three days, Christ truly rises. The guards were the only people to actually witness the resurrection in its full glory. They ran away in fear and reported what happened to the Sanhedrin who in turn bribed them to keep quiet and say that the disciples came and stole the body. Having seen the resurrection with their own eyes, they chose to accept the bribe and deny it all together. They chose immediate gain over eternal life. If they could only hear Christ’s warning: “what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul?”
Peter and John
Peter and John had been with Jesus for three years, and they even heard him constantly teach that he would die and rise from the dead. They were supposed to know. And yet when they found the empty tomb, they left confused, fearful, and indifferent. As a result, they went and locked themselves in. They should have known better, yet they missed the main thing all together.
Mary
Mary, on the other hand, worshipped the resurrected Christ and that worship led her to be a witness as she went and told the disciples that he had risen. Worship leads us to witness.
Thomas
The famous doubting Thomas! He like the other disciples also heard Christ predict his death and resurrection and yet when it happened, he doubted and demanded proof before faith. When Christ eventually shows him the proof he demanded, Christ rebukes him and says, “blessed are those who believe without seeing.”
All of these people except the guards claimed to follow Christ! The resurrection changes everything, and it demands a response from you! How will you respond?
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