THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 12 (HIS BURIAL AND RESURRECTION).

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THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 12 (HIS BURIAL AND RESURRECTION).

Jesus body was buried before the Sabbath began. He was buried in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea, a member of the Sanhedrin, who along with Nicodemus had certainly had no part in the irregular trial. These two men and the faithful women hastily wrapped the Lord’s body in Myrrh and aloes, then with tender love placed him in the tomb.

THE RESURRECTION

(Matthew 28,
Mark 16,
Luke 24,
John. 20:21).

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The life of Jesus did not end on the cross, his body did not remain entombed; he arose from the dead after three days.

The validity of Christian faith stands squarely upon this fact. Were it not for the resurrection there could be no Christian faith for its founder would have been either deceived or even worse a deceiver. He had repeatedly predicted that he would come forth from the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus was the crowing point of his uniqueness; the ultimate manifestation that he was the Messiah. If his life had gone out in darkness upon the cross then the world would be altogether tragic and hopeless. But the resurrection makes even the cross a triumph and because of it there is hope, victory and life.

The four gospels record the event with simple forthrightness. They do not withhold the fact of the disciple’s initial unbelief or their utter failure to understand when the Lord tried to prepare them for his death and resurrection. Yet their change was immediate and complete.

Though they had accepted his death with tragic finality they were not all convinced of his resurrection. The evidence of the empty tomb convinced some of them and his appearance to the disciples convinced all of them. Jesus was with the disciples for forty days after his resurrection and appeared frequently to them.

THE APPEARANCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST.

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Not the gospel writers however but Paul set forth the strongest argument for the resurrection while the Evangelist recorded the historic fact and its proofs Paul set forth the implications of the fact and its “many infallible proofs” 1 Cor. 15:1-8, 12-19.

Paul mentioned only six of Jesus appearance after his resurrection. From the gospels we learn that he was seen frequently, at various place and times during the forty days he remained on earth. It is impossible to determine exactly how many times he was seen or even to know order of the appearances.

The following however is generally accepted as the probable order of the recorded appearances:

1. To Mary Magdalene at the tomb. (John 20:14-18)

2. To the women who found the tomb empty. (Matthew 28:8-10)

3. To Simon Peter at an unknown time. (Luke 24:34)

4. To two disciple on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:31-31)

5. To all the apostle except Thomas. (Luke 24:36-43. It should be noted that all of these first five appearances seem to have occurred on the day of resurrection. Later he appeared.

6. To all the apostles including Thomas, eight days after the resurrection. (John 20:24-29)

1. To seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-23)

2. To the apostles and five hundred of the brethren probably in Galilee. (1Cor. 15:29)

3. To James at some unknown time (1 Cor. 15:7)

4. To the eleven apostles near Jerusalem at the time of his ascension into heaven.
   (Luke 24:50-52)

Beside these times he revealed himself physically to his followers there were other times when his appearance seems to have been in the form of a vision. These were:

1. To Stephen when he was stoned in Jerusalem. (Acts. 7:55)

2. To Paul on the Damascus road. (Acts. 9:3-6)

3. To Paul in the temple. (Acts. 22:17-21, 23:11)

Finally many years later, he revealed himself to John the beloved apostle on the Island of Pathos. (Rev. 1:10-18)

It is interesting to note that none of the Lord’s appearances were to his enemies. He could have diffused all doubt by showing himself to Pilate or the Sanhedrin. But Jesus would not in this way impose faith upon the unbelieving; he only confirmed the faith of those who believed already.

Furthermore, he never seems to have revealed himself privately to his mother. She only saw him along with the other followers. His earthly sojourn was over.

With purpose he showed himself to his church that it might carry on the work that he had begun.

Apart from comforting his disciples, his appearances served a greater purpose that mere comfort they confirmed his lordship in life and sovereignty over death.

They established the faith of those to who so much had been entrusted.

THE ASCENSION AFTER FORTY DAYS:

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Jesus led his disciples to a little hill between Jerusalem and Bethany.
There the air is clean and clear and fresh so that one can see many miles all around.

Jesus in love and brotherhood gave them a farewell blessing. Then he was taken on a cloud by the power of the Spirit into heaven.

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