Vocation Awareness
I Believe in the Resurrection
I believe and I am convinced that Jesus resurrected from the dead!
This is no small matter. St. Paul writes, “And if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty too your faith.” (1 Cor 15:14) These words of St Paul should shock us, no matter how many times we read them. What is ‘your faith’ that St. Paul is talking about? It is the faith that Jesus saves mankind from our sins, faith that Jesus frees mankind from the grip of the devil, and death itself. His resurrection shows the truth of his message and the power His kingdom has over evil. His resurrection shows that divine love conquers all evil, that God’s love will always be victorious over hatred, sin, and death if we but follow in his ways and his footsteps. So let us set out to consider several proofs of the resurrection of Jesus.
First let us remember that we have four views (the four Gospels) of the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, given to us by eyewitnesses, ministers of the word, and personal investigations, for us to be certain of the teachings of Christ and his resurrection. (Luke 1:1-4) With this in mind, and remembering that with all the proofs of the world, we still must take the leap of faith in Jesus and his resurrection. Let us explore several substantial proofs to the authenticity of the Gospels in regard to Jesus’ resurrection.
First, anything that might cause scandal, yet placed in the Gospel is a type of proof of authenticity. In this category we encounter the story of Mary Magdalene who Jesus had driven out seven demons and who is the first to see Jesus resurrected after death and speaks with him. (John 20:11-18) We would naturally think it scandalous for Jesus to appear to Mary Magdalene at all much less first, after all she was once possessed by seven demons. Surely, if Jesus did resurrect from the dead he would appear first to his mother, Mary, or to Peter to whom he had put in charge over his disciples, or one of his other apostles. But, in his resurrection as in his earthly life, Jesus did not mind what was scandalous in man’s eyes, he came to seek out those who were lost to save them. He looked into the heart of those who first believed and so appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Like the woman at the well, the disciples did not believe her until they had seen for themselves. (Mark 16:9-10)
Secondly, any surprising miraculous event seen or experienced by multiple people are proofs of authenticity. In this category is told of the two downcast disciples of Jesus, walking away from Jerusalem depleted from all the hope and joy they had in believing Jesus to be the Messiah, but who was now dead. As they walked to Emmaus, without there knowing who it was, Jesus appeared to them and he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. Later, in the blessings and the breaking of the bread (the new covenant Jesus established at the Last Supper), Jesus vanished, but then they realized it was him and that there hearts were burning within them as they had journeyed with him. (Luke 24:13-35)
Another proof in this category is the store of Peter returning to his profession of fishing. (John 21:1-19) Of all people who has traveled with Jesus and would really understand Jesus and his message it would be Peter, but this story reveals the opposite. Peter doesn’t know what to do! So, he goes back to his old ways and his old profession, fishing, and many disciples are willing to follow him. Imagine that! Peter, along with six other disciples, had been fishing all night and had caught no fish. At dawn, a man on the seashore directed them to cast their nets again. And, as when Jesus had first called Peter, they could not hall in all the fish. The beloved disciple recognizes that it was Jesus, “It is the Lord” and they hurried toward him. Furthermore, once on seashore, Jesus tests Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Peter is hurt to the core of his being that Jesus would question his fidelity, but Jesus is letting Peter know that if he loves him he must leave everything behind and “Tend my Sheep”.
Lastly, any supernatural phenomenon or coinciding natural phenomenon marking this event is another type of concrete evidence and here we have the works from God Almighty himself which could be verified or denied by thousands of people. In Mt 27:51, as Jesus cries out and breathes his last we read, “behold, the veil in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” If any part of this testimony would have been false then conflicting stories would have certainly prevailed and the testimony would have been found false. All witnesses could have verified every aspect. Two further points here, first, the tearing of the sanctuary veil was most visible and verifiable, which also symbolized the separation between the God and man which had ended because of our redemption in Jesus. Second, the earth quaked at the moment of his death which caused the Centurion, who saw and heard the last words of Jesus, to conclude without a doubt “Truly, this was the Son of God”.
Yes, there are many other “proofs” that are remarkable, but I hope these examples help people to “see” the truth in the resurrection of Jesus and thus come to believe. Let us pray to God to increase our faith. Once we are hooked on Jesus, we should live for Jesus and bear on our soul the words of Peter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69) If we live as a community convinced and convicted that Jesus rose from the dead, then surely we will have a remarkable families, growing communities, and many young single men and women who not only desire but will give their life to Christ and his Church as priests and brothers, sisters and nuns to lead the charge of spreading the Good News of our salvation. Happy Easter!
