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DAY 4
Saturday, March 8
... and that he was buried, and that he has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve (1 Corinthians 15:4-5)
Psychologists list over 700 phobias in our society today. Everything from “arachibutyrophobia,” the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth, to “phobophobia,” the fear of fear. What do you fear today? What causes you anxiety and worry? Why do you need peace?
What God's word means
Jesus was buried ("entombed, placed horizontally in a tomb"). The word does not describe burial in the ground but in an above-ground tomb. Next, he has been raised (literally "was raised and is now raised permanently"). Note the passive—Jesus did not raise himself, but was raised by the Spirit (Romans 1:4) through the power of the Father (Galatians 1:1).
This miracle occurred on the third day. As the Jews counted time, any part of a day constituted a whole day. Easter ful filled our Lord's prediction: "Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and su er many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Matthew 16:21; cf. 17:23; Luke 9:22).
Easter occurred according to the Scriptures. Jesus' resurrection fulfi lled Psalm 16:10, "You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." Isaiah 53 predicted that "when his soul makes an o ffering for guilt, he shall see his o spring; he shall prolong his days" (v. 10). Paul may also have had Hosea 6:2 in mind: "on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him." Afterward he was seen ("was made manifest as real"), proving that Jesus was raised as a physical body. When the risen Christ met some of his disciples, "they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him" (Matthew 28:9). He later broke bread at Emmaus (Luke 24:30), showed his disciples his hands and feet (v. 40), ate broiled sh (v. 41-43), and made breakfast for his disciples (John 21:9-13).
Our Lord made 10 post-resurrection appearances, of which Paul listed ve in chronological order. He was seen by Cephas (the Aramaic name for Peter; Paul never calls him "Simon"), a fact attested by the other apostles: "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (Luke 24:34; cf. Mark 16:7). Even though Peter had denied him three times, Jesus would not deny his failed apostle.
Then (the Greek indicates sequence) by the rest of the twelve (the title refers to the original apostles, excluding Judas). The risen Christ appeared to them on Easter Sunday (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23); the next Sunday with Thomas present (John 20:24-29); and still later beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-13), which constituted "the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead" (v. 14). Paul omitted Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to women, most likely because females were not considered reliable witnesses in the Corinthian culture.
Why Easter matters
Chinese theologian Watchman Nee observed, "Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection." Because of Easter, your eternal life is guaranteed. In addition, no matter what challenges you face today, the risen Christ is "with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Your fears are no match for his transforming omnipotence.
How to respond
Thomas Merton: "It is of the very essence of Christianity to face su ffering and death not because they are good, not because they have meaning, but because the resurrection of Jesus has robbed them of their meaning." The worst that can happen to you will lead to the best that can happen to you. Fear knocked; faith answered; there was no one there. What fears are standing at your door today?
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