1 Corinthians 15:3-5, For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
At 52 I find that surprises are a little rarer than earlier in life. It’s hard, though not impossible to plan a surprise birthday party, or other similar engagement. Maybe surprises are over rated??? I find that expecting Christ to return is something I look forward to every day, yet I know that each additional day is an opportunity for someone to make the greatest commitment of their life. I am sure that when it occurs man will be surprised.
The most important surprise man can witness is the world changing resurrection of the Messiah. Jews were not certain of the mechanics here. While Greeks believed in immortality, they balked at physical resurrection. For everybody involved, it was an answer that only the future would reveal.
Not until Jesus came did man see the fact of resurrection. While He raised a couple of people Himself it was temporary. (Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus…) Every person who witnessed this naturally assumed that the raised would die again. Still, the simple illustration of resurrection gave hope to those who saw that it was at least possible. Jesus would even raise himself. Something never repeated – a man who raised himself by His own power. (John 2:19-22)
Upon this truth and demonstration Jesus laid the foundation of the Church. Jesus teachings were profoundly powerful, His miracles were beyond human comprehension, but they never truly defined the Church. The church is founded on the concept that death is defeated. A man who raised Himself from death promised He would raise all of His followers.
2000 years later we struggle to understand the radical idea of resurrection. It wasn’t some parlor trick for a less than scientifically savvy people. Jesus appeared to many people over the course of several days. Many who witnessed this were later martyred for their confession of this fact. The resurrection was a historical fact, not the mass illusion some skeptics would prefer.
This fact changes our world dynamic. It affects how we live, think and work. The question is not whether it happened, but whether we will let it change us. Let this fact change and define you. May we all live a resurrected life.