THE RESSURECTION AND SECOND COMING OF CHRIST - WEEK SEVEN

THE RESSURECTION AND SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION:

            The resurrection of Jesus Christ from death is the hub of Christian faith. It was a controversial topic in the early church especially between the Sadducees who do not accept any teaching about resurrection, retribution in a future life, and the existence of the angels and the Pharisees who accept all of the above. Relying on the resurrection of Christ, Christians believe that all about life does not just end here on earth, but goes beyond it to the spiritual world, where the imbalance of the physical world is removed. Christians who live their life with this hope in view, conduct themselves honorably while they sojourn here on earth..

1. ACCOUNT OF RESSURECTION ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

(Mtt.28:1-8)

      Matthew narrated that on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary visited the tomb where Christ was buried. They witnessed a violent earthquake occasioned by the presence of an angel who rolled away the stone which closed the tomb and sat on it. His appearance frightened the guards to the extent that they became like dead men.

      The angel addressed the women informing them that Christ has risen as he said; he equally showed them where he was laid. He finally gave them the message for the disciples, they were to go to Galilee, and there they would see him.

2. RESSURECTION ACCOUNT ACCORDING TO MARK

(Mk.16:1-8)

      Mark, the first gospel account to be written, recorded that, Mary of Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices to go anoint Jesus at the tomb early in the morning of the first day of the week; on reaching the tomb, they discovered that the stone which enclosed the tomb has been rolled away. On entering the tomb, they noticed a young man sitting on the right dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. It was the young man who informed them that Jesus has risen as he said. He charged them to carry the message to the disciples and Peter, informing that Jesus has gone before them to Galilee, they should meet him there.

3. RESSURECTION ACCOUNT ACCORDING TO LUKE

(Lk.24:1-11)

      Luke’s account has it that some women went to the tomb with prepared ointment. They got there and saw the stone rolled away from the opening of the tomb, they entered but did not find the body of the lord Jesus. They stood there wondering what had happened and suddenly, two men in white garments appeared beside them. In awe the women bent low, the man spoke to them thus “why are you looking for the living among the dead. He has risen”.

      The women, Mary Magdalene, Joana, and Mary the mother of James, returned from the tomb and told the eleven their findings, but they took their story with a pinch of salt.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESSURECTION TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

            The resurrection of Christ is significant for the following reasons

1. Resurrection of Christ made promise of Pentecost a reality. The fulfillment of which marked the beginning of the church.
2. It was a proof that Christ was whom he claimed to be, that is, the son of God.
3. It served as a proof that Christ has accomplished what he had promised before his death, he announced his resurrection on the third day. With his resurrection, believers are hopeful that he will bring to fulfillment his other promises.
4. Resurrection of Christ gives us hope about our own resurrection after earthly existence. Where Christ our head has gone, we the body will follow suit.
5. His resurrection proves his sinless character and his divine nature. Psalm 16:10 holds that God’s holy one would never see corruption and Jesus never saw corruption.

WOMEN’S ACTIVITIES IN THE STORY OF RESSURECTION

            I understand by the above statement, the various roles of women in the resurrection event. During the last days of Jesus on earth, i.e. his passion and death, women proved to be his most committed companions. Even when the apostles were nowhere to be found apart from John, the women remained close to him. It was this same love for the lord that took them to the tomb early on Sunday morning and their discovery will never part from history.

            The women in the resurrection account never deserted Jesus in his great trial moment; and they never stopped serving him even in death. The task of anointing the body for a burial was considered women’s work. They spent fortune to procure the spices for Jesus body. Their reward was outstanding. They experienced one of the greatest privileges and blessings ever: they became the first witnesses of his resurrection. I feel it was their love for Christ that was rewarded. A lesson for all Christians compare and contrast the three accounts of resurrection in the synoptic gospel.

            Our last here is to point out the differences and similarities in the three gospel account.

SIMILARITIES

            Basically, the synoptic gospels have something in common, their accounts are related. In the resurrection account the case was the same. The three gospels maintained that the visit was in the early hours of the first day of the week. Again, women reflected in the three gospels as those who first received the good news of the resurrection. Furthermore, the named women had a common purpose for visiting the tomb, to anoint the body of Christ.

DIFFERENCES

            The three gospel account differed slightly. For Matthew, it was an angel who told the woman that Christ is risen, for Mark, it was a young man sitting in the tomb and for Luke, it was two men dressed on white.

            Also, they differed on the woman who visited the tomb. Matthew named Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, Mark recorded; Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome but for Luke, they were Mary Magdalene, Joana and Mary the Mother of James.

            Mark and Luke recorded that the women entered the tomb but Matthew did not.

CLASSROOM EXERCISE

1. The Resurrection Accounts were stated by whom?
2. State one similarity and disparity in these resurrection account.
3. What was the role of the women in the resurrection account.