Some Ramblings

How many individuals went to the tomb of Jesus after He rose? I'm not sure we can know this, this side of heaven. Mary of Magdala went along with Mary, the mother of James. Salome went with them. John and Peter literally ran to visit the tomb.

It's certain that the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb witnessed the event of the opened tomb. The earthquake got their attention as an angel from heaven descended to earth to attend to the Lord, and roll away the heavy stone from the entrance to the tomb, and sat on it. They shook and were paralyzed with their fear, becoming like men who were dead.

The passage reads; "5But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

The Bible records the different visits of people to the tomb. On at least their first visit to the tomb after the resurrection, the ladies came as a group. It was an angel from heaven who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. Did they all leave together? I'm not sure we can know that either. Maybe Mary lagged behind. Maybe she needed some time to grasp what she had seen and heard. The women brought this great truth to the ears of Peter and John, who raced to the tomb. Maybe Mary was still there when those two men left, and that was the time that was when Jesus appeared to her. We really can't tell.

It's apparent that the Gospel authors did not need to place the events into a comprehensive nor chronological account. Is that a big deal? I don't think so at all. I have read over these events as listed in a chronological Bible, and even then I have a slight problem keeping track of them. I may not be able to figure out how exactly to order them in my head, but I have no trouble believing that these events transpired precisely the way they are described.

The resurrection of the Lord is often called the central event of history upon which Christianity is founded. Jesus and the resurrection account cannot be separated. The simple truth is that Christianity revolves around, and is founded on Jesus, the Christ. What is most important is that Jesus paid for our sins with His suffering and death, and that He rose. Even how many people He appeared to is significant, and meaningful.

The supernatural cannot be removed from the Gospel accounts and leave them viable. Paul made that clear in 1st Corinthians 15:12-19. I have heard people who call themselves Christians say that they do not believe in the resurrection account. You cannot be a Christian and disbelieve the account. One can be the most ethical and disciplined, charitable person in the world, but it means nothing eternally if one does not believe that Jesus rose.

His rising from the dead is the greatest and most fulfilling, confirming and affirming miracle that has ever happened. It is proof that not only He lives, but that He is the God of the living. His rising fulfills Old Testament prophecy, and is the good news of the Gospel accounts. It not only demonstrates His Godhood, but virtually guarantees the believer's resurrection too, because His death made it possible for our sins to be forgiven.

What better thing could we impart to a dying world?