Hallelujah! For the Lord is risen! Yes, He is risen indeed! As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, I would like to introduce you to three groups of eyewitnesses to the Lord’s resurrection.
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it…And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said…And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead…’ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.” (Matthew 28:1-8)
“Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened… they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, “His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.”’ …So they took the money and did as they were instructed…” (Matthew 28:11-15)
The very first eyewitnesses of the Lord’s resurrection were the soldiers who were standing guard at the tomb. They felt with their own legs the ground quaking beneath their feet. They saw with their own eyes the angel in shining clothes roll the stone away from the tomb. They shook with great fear to see the Lord emerging from the grave and fainted dead away. They, of all people, had no excuse to not believe, yet they publicly denied the Lord’s resurrection.
The next eyewitnesses were the women who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices they prepared. They did not actually see His resurrection, but they did see the angel and the empty tomb and believed with joy and awe. And as they turned to go, they saw the Lord and clung to Him and worshipped Him. They had no trouble believing in His resurrection power.
The third witnesses, the Lord’s eleven disciples, did not see the angel or the Lord (at first), but saw only the evidence that something amazing had happened–the empty tomb and the folded grave clothes. They couldn’t believe the stories of the women and the disciples from Emmaus who met Jesus on their way. But in faith and hope they went to the mountain in the Galilee where Jesus said He would meet them. And when He later appeared to them there, some believed and worshiped Him, yet some still doubted. Thomas, one of the doubters, was convinced only after seeing the wounds of the Lord in His flesh.
“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:29)
Every person stands among each of these three groups of witnesses at some time in their life. Where do you find yourself right now? Are you like one of the soldiers? Have you heard the Gospel and felt the tug of the Holy Spirit’s call, yet deny the resurrection and salvation power of the Lord? I pray not! But you may know someone who is in this position. There are many in this group who need to be taken by the hand and led into a saving faith and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, our Savior.
Are you seeking the Lord in faith and hope like the disciples, yet still have some doubts in your heart that you are saved? You can know for sure today! Believe and do not doubt! Begin to confess your faith and ask the Lord to confirm His grace in your heart. You can pray, “Yes, Lord, I believe, please help my unbelief.” And He will absolutely come and show you without a doubt that He is your faithful and true Lord and Savior.
Or have you believed with all your heart that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and that He died and rose again to make a way for you to be saved, even though you have not seen Him yet? You are blessed, as I am sure you already know, to be standing in this group of the Lord’s witnesses. But you have also been given a great commission to go and tell others the great news you have received. Compel those who are like the soldiers to step out of the group of denial and introduce them to the Lord. And come alongside those who are like the doubting disciples, and share with them the goodness and true relationship you have experienced in your walk with the Son of Man. For when the disciples did believe, they were each changed from uneducated fishermen into powerful witnesses that “turned the world upside down”.
May you be encouraged in your walk with Yeshua today and may His saving power strengthen your spirit as you witness to others for Him.