In the past three weeks, Theology 101 has sought to offer reflections on the miracle, message and mandate of Christ’s resurrection. This week, we take note of the varied emotions people displayed in learning of that resurrection.
We saw last week that the risen Christ instructed Mary Magdalene to go tell His disciples that He was risen and that she had seen and touched Him. The reactions to this news were varied among those who first learned that a real resurrection had occurred.
The evening of that Resurrection Day showed the disciples’ initial reaction when they saw the risen Christ for themselves. The inspired record puts it simply: “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).
However, one disciple was absent from the joyous occasion — Thomas was not with the others. When told of Christ’s resurrection, Thomas was skeptical, or at least he wanted firsthand proof of a real, bodily resurrection by actually touching the risen Christ and seeing the nail prints in His hands. Upon Jesus’ appearance a week later, Thomas’ reaction was a sincere declaration about the risen Christ, simply, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
Range of emotions
Among the range of emotions attested in various Bible passages when people heard the Resurrection message or encountered the resurrected Messiah for themselves were worship (Matt. 28:9), amazement (Mark 16:8), great joy (Matt. 28:8), praise (Luke 24:53), gladness (John 20:20) and burning hearts (Luke 24:32).
Could it be that many of us have celebrated numerous Easters with the sad recognition that there is little excitement, joy, praise or amazement igniting our spirits? Or do we annually anticipate the spiritual emotions of celebrating anew the resurrection of Christ as the aftermath of His Good Friday death as our sin-bearer?
Can we still say with an exclamation point in our words what we learned to sing as children in Sunday School? “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”
Future implications
Reflecting on the implications for our life now and for our future should fill our hearts with similar emotions to those displayed by the ones who were first to hear that the crucified Christ had become the Risen Christ. And not only so, but we also have access to the climactic truth that the Risen Christ not only became the Ascended Christ but will on a day yet to come be the Returning Christ.
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