Calvin Synod Herald, 2011 (112. évfolyam, 3-12. szám)

2011-03-01 / 3-4. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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Do You Believe In The Resurrection?

Easter 2011: Bible Reading: ICorinthians 15; Text: John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Dear Members of the Calvin Synod,

A very active and dedicated Consistory member spoke to me after a funeral service 35 years ago in Europe. He expressed his disbelief in the resurrection and his argument was that nobody ever came out of the grave. I was surprised by his remark as I had just proclaimed that there is resurrection from the dead and eternal life which is a gift of God through faith. The question arises again at this Easter: do you believe in the resurrection? Jesus’ statement above from the Gospel of John is part of a conversation between Jesus and Martha who lost her brother, Lazarus, and was experiencing the grief, loss, and emotional pain that we experience at the time of a loved ones’ death. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead to prove the power of God manifested in His life and the truth of His statement, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Martha’s answer can be similar to ours. She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world. ” (John 11:27)

Jesus came to this world to save humankind from the power of sin and death and by His own sacrifice on the cross He paid the ransom for sin. He was raised from the dead on the third day according to the promises of God in the Scriptures. By His resurrection God established a new era of transforming power in the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ called Christians. Several accounts of the miracle of the resurrection are recorded in the Gospels and in the New Testament (Mark 16, Matthew 28, Luke 24, J ohn 11:25-27, John 20, Acts 1:1-11, 1 Cor. 15,1 Peter 1:3) which are important to read. One significant account of the resurrection is found in the Gospel of John. On Easter morning the women first met the risen Lord. One of them was Mary Magdalene to whom Jesus said, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek? ” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and 1 will take him away. ” Jesus said to her, "Mary. ” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rab-boni! ” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for 1 have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. ” Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:15-18)

Even the apostles had difficulty believing in the resurrection. The reality of the empty tomb made them wonder and fearful but their faith in the resurrection was restored when they saw

the risen Lord. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you. ” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you. ” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. ” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord. ” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe. ” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you. ” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing. ” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God! ” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. ” (John 20:19-29)

The resurrected and glorified Christ was similar yet different in appearance from His previous earthly body. Only those recognized Him to whom faith was given as a gift. Jesus did not reveal himself to his enemies but to his disciples. The apostle Paul was an exception. He was an enemy who persecuted Christians but Christ revealed himself to him on the road to Damascus. This encounter happened 15 years after the resurrection and transformed the life of a former enemy to be the most effective apostle who proclaimed faith and new life in Christ establishing Christian churches and became a preacher, teacher, and defender of Christianity in the world. Even today, Christ can transform lives to believe. The Holy Spirit can seal the message of the Gospel in human hearts when it is proclaimed.

So, do you believe in the resurrection? Or are you unsure about resurrection? Is the fear of death more dominant in your life than to trust in the promises of Jesus who said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father ’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going. ” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way? ” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. (John 14:1-6) Finally, the apostle Paul encourages us with these words, “For 1 delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he Continued on page 4