We believe in the Risen Lord. When we say in our Creed that ‘He rose from the dead’ we are confessing our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But, often we come across people who, though regard Jesus in high esteem, find it difficult to confess that Jesus did really rise from the dead. They have no issue with Jesus being celebrated as a great or even the greatest prophet who performed many miracles, a model for all humanity, a person sent directly from heaven, and founder of a religion of love. They will agree with everything the Bible said about Jesus, but when it comes to his resurrection, somehow their reason overtakes their faith, and they look at it with a little suspicion. They will ask; ‘how is it possible for a man to conquer death?’
Those two disciples, whom Jesus met on the way to Emmaus, were also skeptical about Jesus’ resurrection. They indeed believed that Jesus was Christ. But they could not believe that Christ was supposed to go through his passion and crucifixion. More importantly, they could not believe that a person could ever conquer death. They knew the prophecies about Christ, but somehow they missed the most vital part of it, that Christ should suffer, die and finally rise from the dead.
Jesus corrects them saying; “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!”[Lk 24:25]. The crux of their problem was that they could not believe the words of prophets. But they were fortunate that the Lord himself explained everything to them. Had they believed in prophets, they should have believed in the resurrection of Christ also. Incidentally, Paul the apostle also criticizes the folly of those who question the truth of resurrection [1 Cor 15:35].
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was pleading with Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn his five brothers, so that they could escape the torments of Hades. Abraham categorically denies his request saying that there was no need of sending Lazarus back to earth, because those on earth have the words of Moses and other prophets to follow. It was sufficient for them to please God. But the rich man had a different opinion. He argues that if his brothers hear the testimony of a man who was once dead and then came back to life, there was a better chance of them repenting. To this, Abraham’s reply was curt and to the point. ‘ If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” [Lk 16:31].
Lesson to learn: Absolute faith in the written Word is required to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Those who do not believe verbatim what is written in the Holy Bible, will naturally view the truth of resurrection with skeptical eyes only. Christian faith is a package, and there is no option to believe what we like, and reject what we do not like. At the time of telling the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus knew that his resurrection is going to be denied by many in future. Keeping in mind those who would doubt his resurrection, he made the point very clear; that believing in his resurrection would be impossible for those who do not believe what is written in the Scripture,
In the book of Acts and Epistles we see the apostles proclaiming the truth of resurrecion whenever they got an opportunity [Acts 2:24, 2:31-32, 2:36, 3:15, 4:2, 4:10,5:30, 7:56,10:40-41,13:30,13:34,17:3, 17:31,23:6,26:8,26:23, Rom1:4, 4:25, 6:4-5, 6:9, 8:11,8:34,10:9,14:9, 1 Cor 15:4, 1 Cor 15:12-17, 1 Cor 15:20, 2 Cor 4:14, 2 Cor 5:15, Gal 1:1, Eph 1:20, 2:6, Phil 2:9, 3:13, Col 1:18, 2:12,3:1,1 Thes 1:9-10, 4:14, 2 Tim 1:10, 2:8, Heb 10:12,13:20, 1 Pet 1:4,1:21,3:18-22, Rev 1:5,1:18,2:8]. The apostles never hesitated to proclaim the truth of resurrection in spite of it being ‘a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles’ 1 Cor 1:23].
Christian life is a life for proclaiming the truth of resurrection. ‘If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile…’ says the apostle [1 Cor 15:17]. There is no gospel without resurrection. There is no preaching without resurrection. It is written; ‘If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain’ [1 Cor 15:14]. Conversions, healing, and deliverance happen in the name of the Risen Lord.
Let us say with all conviction; ‘The Lord has risen indeed’ [Lk 24:34], and pray for those whose faith in the Word of God is not strong enough to believe this truth.
‘Christ is risen, Hallelujah!’
