“Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon” (Luke 24:34).
TEXT — Luke 24:27-36
Message
Frank Morrison is best known as the pen name of Albert Henry Ross, an English writer who authored the book “Who Moved the Stone?” published in 1930. Ross was a journalist and novelist who set out to write a book debunking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, he converted to Christianity during research and wrote a defence of the resurrection instead. “Who Moved the Stone?” is a well-regarded work in Christian apologetics. Ross meticulously examines the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and argues for its historical validity.
The angel that announced the resurrection of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, said to them, “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here…” The realisation by the disciples that Christ had risen from death turned the scales for them. His death had a crushing effect on them and threw them into confusion and uncertainty despite Christ’s hints about His resurrection. Here, we see Him appear to two disciples on their way to Emmaus and engage them in a conversation. Yet they did not recognise Him until He made Himself known to them while they dined together and disappeared from their sight afterward. On their return to Jerusalem, they shared their experience with the rest of the disciples. Christ gave them the most complete confirmation by appearing again to them.
In His earthly ministry, Christ proved His divinity in many ways, but rising from the tomb three days after His crucifixion sealed it all. It consolidated the accomplishment of His mission to redeem humanity from the bondage of sin. It distances Him from all religious exponents, authenticates the faith of believers, guarantees the eventual triumphant resurrection of believers, and provides impetus to the preaching of the gospel. Apostle Paul sums up the gospel thus: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
The primary reason that Christians walk by faith, preach with confidence, and endure severe persecutions is because He is risen. Hence, the Bible declares, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14).
Thought for the day
The empty tomb of Christ silences every argument against his resurrection.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
