READ: John 20
Verses
chosen for meditation: John 20:19-21
19 On the evening of
that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the
disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them
and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When
he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the
disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus
said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent
me, even so I am sending you.”
REFLECT
Opponents
of Christ or people who discredit Jesus’ resurrection tend to make the disciples
out to be gullible country bumpkins believing in ghosts, or portray them as conspirators
fabricating a resurrection plot to bolster support for their movement.
The
Bible presents a very different picture. Far from the disciples pushing their case
of a risen Jesus, it shows Jesus’ followers themselves being the biggest
skeptics to news of the resurrection. Mary Magdalene was adamant someone took
Jesus’ body and did not make the connection after seeing angels. She was so
beside herself in her grief that she could not even recognise Jesus until he
called her name (John 20:14-16).
Peter
and John was not convinced merely by the woman’s account and had to see for
themselves. After verifying the empty tomb, with neatly folded clothes (so tomb
robbery was out of question), they simply went home. That same night, the
disciples locked themselves in a room in fear of the Jewish leaders, apparently
still skeptical.
Jesus,
understanding their struggles in faith, goes out of his way to allay their fears
and skepticism. He appeared before them and showed his scars. Other times, he visits
in broad daylight and fishes with them. He ate broiled fish in their presence
to prove he’s not a ghost (Luke 24:42-43). The records of the risen Jesus
appearing in the Bible are not many, but they show a clear pattern. With one
exception (1 Corinthians 15:6), Jesus visits small groups of people behind
closed doors or in remote places.
One
wonders why Jesus didn’t appear in front of crowds. Wouldn’t that prove to greater
effect his resurrection and win more over? How sensational it would be if he
appeared before the Sanhedrin, the ones who ordered his death. However, would that
ignite faith? As we learnt in Luke 16:31, people who do not listen to the
teachings of the word will not be convinced even if they see miracles before
them. Their hardened hearts will wire them to somehow argue against the obvious
evidence.
So,
Jesus chose a different way. The private and personal encounters boosted the
faith of those who already believe in him. He then let them, with their
increased faith, spread the gospel as his witnesses.
RELATE
The
resurrection is the most important event concerning our faith, and the pillar of
our belief. Unbelievers will undoubtedly question the accounts. Today’s reading
show how honest and credible the Bible is. The fact that a woman is recorded as
the witness of the risen Christ does not work in our favour. If we’re
conspirators fabricating the resurrection story, writing such an account would sabotage
ourselves! This is because accounts of women were not taken seriously then (they
were not even fit to witness in court). Yet, it’s amazing God used a woman to
be the spreader of such news (like the Samaritan woman in John 4). That shows
not only God’s absence of discrimination that’s found in men’s systems, but
also the honesty of the Bible, lending credibility it actually happened.
Attacks
on the disciples’ integrity made no sense too, given their behaviour after the
resurrection, suffering excruciatingly for their belief in the resurrection (stark
contrast to their behaviour before Jesus’ death). A conspirator would never die
for their fabricated ploys. Claims that the authorities were responsible for Jesus’
missing body didn’t materialise also, as no one substantiated that claim,
because there was simply no evidence available. So, we are left with the only
explanation that does have available sources, all of which unanimously affirm that
on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead!
Besides
being a historical event, the resurrection is also hugely personal. Like how Jesus
appeared before believers to bolster them in their faith, he reveals himself to
us in unique ways that speak to us. But only if we get into the right humbling
posture of wanting to receive. All our experiences differ so we don’t impose our
experiences on others. To a crying Mary, he calls her name tenderly. To a
doubting Thomas, he allows him to examine his scars. For those who yearn for this
encounter, let’s pray for it and humble ourselves.
The
resurrection is universal too. Jesus chose this personal, intimate way, rather than
the sensational, to build our faith, so that we may in turn share this good
news to those who are lost. Jesus did not appear before us because we are a
select chosen few, but intends for us to do something about it, now that we
know his reality and goodness.
REST
Father, thank you for your word, offering us truth
in a world of deception. Help us to hold on to this truth and allow it to guide
our lives. Thank you, Jesus, for going out of your way to be with us, catering
to our unique needs. Thank you for the Spirit, filling gaps in our understanding
and building our faith. Amen.
Chris
Chong
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