1940 was a
year of uncertainty with the dark clouds of war hanging over much of the world.
So it made the discovery of the tomb of Psusennes 1 and his wife Mutnedjmet
even more important. That is why French archaeologist,
Pierre Montet worked against the clock to excavate the tomb. After years of
searching for this Pharaoh, the moment finally arrived to open the tomb that
had been sealed for 3000 years. Montet found priceless jewels and a mummy case
of granite. Beneath
it was a second coffin of silver and below that another of solid gold. Inside lay
the remains of Pharaoh Psusennes 1. He
ruled with absolute power and claimed to be a god. Although great and small
bowed before his throne he like all people bowed to death. No amount of money
or gold could stave off this last enemy of humankind. Inside that mummy was a
shriveled, blackened corpse that testifies to the relentless grip of death on
all of us.[i]
There is
however, one who overcame the powerful grip of death; his name is Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of the Christ is the monumental foundational belief of
Christianity. Perhaps that is why it is so hard for some to believe it. Gilbert
West, Frank Morison and Simon Greenleaf are examples of those who could not
accept the truth of the resurrection. These well-known scholars all set about
in one way or another to prove that it was not true, but changed their minds in
the process. All wrote of their absolute belief in the resurrection of Christ
because of the certainty of the evidence.[ii]
Let’s look at some of the evidence.
Mary
Magdalene was the first to see the risen Christ early that Easter morning, to
which she exclaimed,
“I have
seen the Lord!" (John 20:18). Mary the mother of Jesus and other women
went on Sunday morning to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial and were met
by an angel in dazzling raiment. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for
I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he
has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Matt 28:5-6).
Simon
Peter, who fell into despair because of his denial of Christ, was restored by a
meeting with the resurrected Lord. James, one of Jesus’ own brothers, who at
first did not accept Jesus as God's Son, likewise stood face to face with Jesus,
and he later became the leader of the Early Church. Then there were 500
witnesses who saw Jesus at one time, “that he appeared to Peter, … After that,
he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time… Then he
appeared to James, then to all the apostles” (1 Cor 15:3-8).
Then there
was the doubting disciple, Thomas who asserted that he would not believe that
Jesus was alive unless he could see the print of the nails in his hands. John
tells what happened, “Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among
them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then
he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and
put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord
and my God!’” (John 20:26-27).
I love the
story of the two disciples who were journeying in great sadness, and suddenly
they were filled with unspeakable joy when Christ came and talked with them as
they walked the Emmaus road. These are their words: "Were not our hearts
burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures
to us?" (Luke 24:32).
The Apostle
Paul wrote, “Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life.” (Rom 6:4). Easter means that because Jesus
defeated death, we can too through Christ. Easter is about each of us
experiencing new life. What is it that keeps you from believing the evidence of
Christ’s resurrection? Have you been crushed by personal crisis or hurt so
deeply that resentment overwhelms you? Let the skepticism go and believe that
Jesus died to take your burden of sin and shame away and that he arose from the
grave. Jesus’ promise to us is, “Because
I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).
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