Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” —
John 20:27
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! The virgin birth and the resurrection are two of the most contended facts about Jesus. The two are however among the fundamental pillars on which our faith rests. The empty tomb, the broken Roman seal, the folded grave clothes and the absence of the guards, all confirmed the reality of the resurrection. However, Thomas helped to establish the physical reality. Jesus had a bodily resurrection.John 20:27
His death was not a metaphor or a symbolic representation of a spiritual truth. His body was seen and touched.
The disciples of Jesus were fully convinced by the evidence. His death had represented finality for them. They had accepted that it was all over but the resurrection had restored their hope. Skeptics have always sought to downplay the resurrection. Acts 17:32 says, “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter.’ ” Why would almost all the eleven and several other disciples of Jesus endure torture, crucifixion and cruel deaths for something they were not convinced about?
1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” Jesus’ resurrection perfected the work of redemption. It guaranteed the resurrection of all believers. Jesus was the first fruit of resurrection. The resurrection also gave Christ authority over all realms. Philippians 2:10 says that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.
Prayer:
Help me, Lord, to manifest the power of the risen Christ.Scripture Reading:
John 20:19-31
YearOfExcellence
