Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Wednesday, 09 April 2025 09:36

Easter Series -Eyewitness Accounts
by Cody Anderson Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

For the next few weeks, we will be looking at Easter – the time we remember the resurrection of the One who laid down His life. We will consider the impact of the resurrection on the early Christian church, what it means for humanity today, how an empty tomb changed history, and the eyewitness accounts.
We will start with the most unlikely eyewitness account. If the resurrection was just a hoax, there is no way the conspirators would include the women’s account of seeing the resurrected Lord found in Matthew. Mary Magdalene and another Mary were informed by an angel on the way to the tomb that Jesus was not where they laid Him. Then Matthew continues, “And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to report to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Rejoice!’ And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go, bring word to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me,’” (Matthew 28:8-10, NASB). They left the tomb with fear and great joy. Then Jesus commands them to not be afraid and to tell what they have experienced to the brothers.

The first eyewitness account of the resurrection comes from two grieving women. In those days, women were not looked on as credible witnesses, so they would have been the worst eyewitnesses for conspirators to use to fabricate a story. God used women throughout the Bible for His purposes, and here we see, in part, a restoration of the fall found in Genesis 3.
Jesus then appeared to a couple of men on their journey to Emmaus. As they were discussing Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus walked with them and explained all things written about Himself in the Old Testament Scriptures. Those two men were unable to connect the dots between all the Old Testament prophecies that they knew and all that Jesus had accomplished in His earthly ministry that they had seen. They could not understand how fulfilling those prophecies proved Him to be the Son of God and Savior of the world. In a similar way, there are so many in the church today that are unable to connect the dots between all that the Bible says about Jesus and all the lives that continued to be changed by Him even today.
It wasn’t until Jesus stayed with them in the village and broke bread with them that the men recognized Him. Luke records their response of having Jesus revealed to them, “And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathered and those who were with them, saying, ‘The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!’ They began to relate their experiences on the road, and how He was recognized by them at the breaking of the bread,” (Luke 24:33-35, NASB).

Next, John records the appearing to the disciples in a closed room with Thomas’ interaction being highlighted. Jesus appeared among them without the use of the door. He greeted them and showed them His hands. However, Thomas wasn’t present during the first interaction and was skeptical of the disciples’ account of seeing the Lord. Thomas responds, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe,” (John 20:25, NASB). Eight days after this encounter, Jesus again comes into the closed room and greets them, but tells Thomas specifically, “‘Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.’ Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed,’” (John 20:27-29, NASB).

Paul also records in 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrected Jesus appeared to a crowd of over 500 people. Then He appeared to James and Paul.
Jesus appearing to so many at one time would dispel the idea of the resurrection accounts as personal hallucinations. The resurrection itself validates Jesus’ divinity. We do not have a blind faith, but one that is based on the Word of God and eyewitness accounts.