He's Alive!

JOHN 20

If the crucifixion is vital to recall and remember, then so much more is the resurrection for us to do the same, proclaim His triumph as we await His return, when He will meet His church in the air. Just how does the resurrection heal the soul? Allow me to explore, using two people in this chapter as examples.

Having already contrasted Peter and Judas, now take a look at Peter and Thomas. Peter might be easy to defend, Thomas, perhaps not, but I’m going to try hard to do so.

Peter is so very famous for the denial, and yet he does not slink off somewhere in despair. He knows he needs to be with these people who have followed the Lord this far. But what is he thinking? Really, what was he even doing when he heard the news from Mary early that Sunday morning? We can see he did not hesitate to go explore the announcement. I can imagine he so desperately wanted to believe her. And knowing Peter as we do, he was probably aggravated that John outran him!

John looks in, and Peter? Well he just barges right past John and goes down into the tomb to see as up close and personally as he can. He sees the linen cloths there, separate from the face cloth. Much in the area of apologetics has been written about this aspect of the resurrection, and I encourage those interested to read up on the subject. This passage is unclear, however, as to whether or not Peter really believed at this point. John, did, we are told. Peter turned to go back to his home. Perhaps Peter could not yet shake the shame of what he had done just a couple days prior.

Another account of this in Mark 16, has the angel specifically tell the women to go find Peter, mentioning him by name. It was important for the Lord to make sure Peter knew He was alive. Regardless, Peter is in the room when Jesus appears to them, leaving no doubt he is alive.

Then there is Thomas, and I’m sorry, but I really do not buy the idea that Thomas is harshly rebuked for his “doubting”. In verses 19-24, all the other disciples got to see Jesus in person, resurrected, and are shown His hands and side. So they did get to see and believe. Thomas, as the text says, was not there. I’m not excusing him, by any means, and he was clearly at a disadvantage compared to the others when they told him what they had seen. Sure, he should have believed him. Jesus makes it clear to Thomas, though, when he appears the next time.

Thomas’ response to Christ is my favorite exclamation in Scripture, “My Lord and My God!” Exactly how the believer must respond to Christ! He is God, and He is the Lord.

SO WHAT…?

So, we have not seen the crucified or risen Christ. So we are those “blessed” referred to who have not seen and yet believe. It can be hard to really grasp the reality of these events as they happened. Yet, once we recognize our sinful state, and turn away from it, accept Christ and His payment on our behalf, our desire should be to live for Him through the work of the Spirit. “Blessed” indeed, for there is no better life.

As an aside, Allen Asbury has performed a remarkable piece of music called “He’s Alive”, written by Don Francisco, which parallels Peter’s life with the Christ. It stirs the emotions and does a great job at putting you into the mind of Peter, as much as possible, I suppose. A video is on his website, at http://www.allenasbury.com/fr_intro.cfm.