Happy Easter 2009
Easter a time of celebration and thanksgiving for our resurrected savior. And yet that first Easter was one of confusion and fear for Jesus' early follower. Three days earlier Jesus was handed over to soldiers who with sickening ruthlessness tortured Jesus.
Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Matthew 27:27-31
The same group of soldiers who had tortured Jesus were responsible to carryout his execution. Nailing him to the cross, the soldiers settled back considering their job complete, waiting for Jesus to die.
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:50-54
These battle harden soldiers' realization that they had killed the Son of God struck terror in their hearts. It is likely that these miraculous signs would have convinced many Jesus was the Son of God. With all of this happening, we find that Jesus' disciples were in hiding, afraid that the Jewish leaders would be coming after then.
I've heard some speakers make disparaging remarks about the disciples and their lack of faith. Quite frankly, I am willing to cut them some slack. After all, Matthew 28:11-15 tells that when the guards who were watching over Jesus' tomb witnessed the miraculous opening of Jesus tomb and his resurrection, the chief priest chose to offer them bribes for hushing the story up and telling lies, rather than having the response of the soldiers and with remorse saying, "Surely he was the Son of God." With that type of drive to maintain power and their current lifestyle, I wouldn't find it too far fetched that the disciples might be in danger. But their fear soon turns to joy.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. John 20:19-20
Thomas too may get some grief at times from modern day Bible teachers & it is true that Jesus told him to stop doubting. However I am not sure that Jesus was saying this to him in a condemning manner. After all, Jesus had shown the other disciples his hands and his side and Thomas seems to be asking for the same confirmation.
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:24-29
I have many favorite Bible verses and John 20:29 is at the top. "... blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Those who have believe even though Jesus has not appeared before us and shown us his wounds are blessed. We are blessed for believing.
It is through the prompting of the Holy Spirit that we are led to Jesus, his salvation and ultimately reconciliation with God the Father. Have you put your faith in Jesus? if not I would encourage you to research for yourself what the Bible has to say about him. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to you.
Jesus tells us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8
Easter would be a great time to begin that search.
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