Daily Manna 16-04-2016

Topic: The empty tomb 17

Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15

Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)

Note: Two examples of the behaviour of two of the disciples of Jesus Christ covering events before his death and after his resurrection from the dead, point to the fact that inspite of their unquestionable loyalty to their Master, these disciples were not following Jesus blindly. These were not fanatics. They were not prepared to die needlessly merely because of their belief in and love for their Master. They were ready to question the status quo and subject evidence for their faith to critical interrogation.

Peter indulged in a characteristic “harmless lie” just in case the forces that be might want to implicate him in the trial of Jesus. Peter’s conviction after the third denial, pricking him into repentance after the cock had crowed the third time was a grim reminder of what Christ had warned him of. The “harmless lie” was not harmless after all. Ashamed, he wept bitterly and repented of the act.

With the demise of Judas, the remaining disciples were in a state of quandary and despondency after the death of Christ. Jesus had appeared to them on the first Sunday after his resurrection, but Thomas was not with the other ten disciples. Apparently, his faith had been so shaken by the traumatic incidents leading to the death of Christ that he might have been weighing his options for the way forward. This was the same Thomas who had previously marshalled his fellow disciples to go with Christ to Judea even if it meant that they had to die with the Master in the events leading to the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:16). Not many people give Thomas credit for this mobilising effort in encouraging his colleagues, due to the latter event in questioning the veracity of the resurrected Christ after his first visit to the disciples.

This spectacular doubt exhibited by Thomas was to override any previous achievements of his. Determined to cure his doubts, Thomas stayed with the rest of the disciples until the following Sunday when Jesus reappeared to them. After satisfying himself with the evidence of the nail marks in the palm and the spear wound on the side of Jesus, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)

Food for thought: There is more to faith than unbridled fanaticism and self martyrdom.

Declaration: ……Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29)

© Author: Rev Fred Aboe