We all have favourite resurrection stories. For some, it is the fact that Jesus appeared to the women first, especially Mary Magdalene, calling her by name. (John 20:11-18) For others, it is the personal touch, that He told the women to go to the disciples ‘and Peter’ (Mark 16:7), remembering that the one who had denied Him would need extra reassurance and restoration. Others love the story of Jesus walking alongside the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) or how Jesus comes to Thomas in his doubts and shows him His wounds. (John 20:24-29) There are so many stories that confirm the resurrection by their small details and true-to-human-nature responses. No one was really expecting this miracle, despite all that Jesus had said beforehand, and the journey from despondency to joy is told in many different ways.
One of my favourite resurrection verses is found in Matthew’s Gospel, immediately before the Great Commission, when Jesus gives His disciples their future role to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matt 28:18-20) It’s set a little time after Easter Sunday: ‘Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.’ (Matt 28:16-17)
Resurrection is a life-changing event, and we often focus on the elation, joy and hope which it brings – and rightly so. But I am reassured by Matt 28:17, even as I identify so often with the doubting nature of Thomas. Some believe that a life of faith dispels doubt and that there is no room for questions when you know God. I am not one of those people. I believe that worship and doubt can often co-exist and that it takes faith to bring our doubts to Jesus and let Him dissolve them through His resurrection presence. The disciples had been through a lot. They had had their hopes dashed. They had seen their Lord and Master killed in a horrendous way and had been bewildered and dazed by grief, as so many people still are. We know the end of the story; as they lived through that first Easter weekend, they didn’t. And when Jesus appeared to them, risen but still bearing the wounds of crucifixion, they must have been bewildered still. Good news can still take time to process.
I am encouraged by the fact that Jesus gave His Great Commission to fallible, doubting people who still chose to worship. I am encouraged by the fact that the Holy Spirit came to empower those same fallible, doubting people and help them to proclaim gospel truths with boldness and courage. It gives me hope for our generation, that as we spend time worshipping the risen Saviour, even with our doubts and uncertainties, He will do the same for us.
