But [the disciples] did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (Luke 24:11)
If you grew up going to church, then for you, it’s probably somewhat assumed and accepted that Jesus died and rose again. After all, we tend to believe the things that we’re taught from a young age without giving them a lot of thought. However, the idea that someone actually died and came back to life is a little “out there” when it really comes down to it.
For some, the resurrection is a hurdle that is not easily jumped over, and it comes across as simply foolishness. Have you ever actually seen someone come back to life? It’s hard to believe something with which we have no prior experience. The good news for us (and one of the reasons why I believe the resurrection is real) is that Jesus’ followers didn’t believe the story, either, when they heard it for the first time. And come to think of it, if you were going to make up a story of how God came to earth, you probably wouldn’t have included a brutal death and resurrection in your version. The only logical way to explain any of this is to believe the illogical – that it actually happened.
After Jesus appeared to them, the disciples went on to spread the message that Jesus was actually alive. Ironically, they didn’t spread the news of this by teaching what Jesus taught; they simply told others that the man had come back to life. For many, being a part of the movement meant giving up their lives. Now if they knew it was all a big lie, why would they give their lives to it? People die for causes all the time, but they don’t die for causes they know are fake.
Though the idea of a resurrection seems like malarkey, the other explanations for what happened after the crucifixion make even less sense than believing that it was actually true. And after all, if God created the whole world, isn’t He also capable of bringing Jesus back to life?
Lord, thank You for the all of the evidences You have given us for the truth of the resurrection. In moments when we begin to doubt, would You strengthen us to believe? The whole of Christianity rests on this event that either did or didn’t happen, and none of us wants to believe a lie. Help us to know what’s true.
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