Today, the whole Christian world celebrates the greatest feast of the resurrection. As Christianity is the religion of Christ crucified and risen, we have all the good reasons to celebrate with joyful hearts this great day when our Lord has finally conquered death and restored life. Had Christ not risen from the dead, everything would have been in vain. For sure, we have no reason to be here. The significance of the resurrection is, therefore, highest and all encompassing. Let us meditate on it.
1. The
resurrection is true as a matter of fact. This is the prime concern of the
evangelists as they narrated the story of the resurrection. Of course, its
historicity must not be understood in its ordinary sense, or can the
circumstantial evidences that surround the event be a subject to the ordinary
norms of historical criticism. While it is true that there was no single
eyewitness of the resurrection, the early Christians were also certain of at
least two things upon which they based their unwavering conviction.
First, the
glorified body of the risen Christ was different from the ordinary human body.
While at one occasion the risen Christ appeared to be hungry and thus ate with
the apostles, at another occasion this same body entered the room with locked
doors. While the risen Christ traveled on foot along the road to Emmaus,
explaining at length the meaning of scripture, the disciples never recognized
him until the breaking of the bread. In other words, the glorified body of the
risen Christ goes beyond the categories of space and time. Thus, even though a
camera man were right at the front of the tomb where Christ resurrected, no
pictures can still be taken to prove that such event took place. But that does
not mean there was not any resurrection. Indeed, there was?
Second, the
conviction of the early Christians on the fact of the resurrection was based on
the apparitions of the risen Lord and not merely on the empty tomb. True, the
empty tomb has its own valid significance. It enkindled the faith of John,
built the hope of Peter and enhanced more the love of Magdalene. But its face
value remains a sign and not a proof of the resurrection. The apparitions of
Christ were the ones decisive. These apparitions became the strong foundation
of their faith. The typical example would be Thomas the Apostle. Only after he
witnessed the risen Lord was he able to make such great confession of faith: “My
Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28). What was true to Thomas became true to
others.
2. The fact
of the resurrection is the basis of our faith. The confession of Thomas has
become the confession of the church, the confession of every soul that
believes. Indeed, there is not any stronger foundation of our faith than the
resurrection. And we have at least three reasons for it.
a. First,
without the resurrection, everything would be futile. Christ worked out for his
mission practically all of his life. Although we see him in public only at his
last three years, the story of the God-made man starts right at the
annunciation. From that moment on, the long history of "stooping down"
began. From the humble stable in Bethlehem to the small carpentry shop in
Nazareth, Jesus set an example of a poor man’s life. Wearing the shoes of the
fisherman, he picked up those simple fisher folks and made them fishers of men.
From the synagogue of Capernaum to the shores of Galilee, he preached the
gospel of love, teaching people that true greatness consists in humility and
service. He announced that the kingdom is at hand by concrete signs as giving
sight to the blind, speech to the mute, health to the sick, food to the hungry,
freedom to captives, life to the dead, and proclaiming that justice and peace
are the genuine characteristics of the Lord's year of favor.
Little by
little, he opened the eyes of people that indeed this poor man of Nazareth was
the fulfillment of scripture. And when at last he gave the ultimate proof to it
by dying on the cross, we hear the centurion’s confession that truly he was
the Son of God (cf Mk 15:39). We recall in brief the life of Jesus, and so
admire what a life it really was. But all these things count for nothing had
Christ not risen from the dead. Even the cross itself would simply be a
scandal.
b. Second,
the fact of the resurrection is the undying proof that the God we adore is the
God of truth. He is the God who knows not how to tell lies. When he said it, he
meant it. When he meant it, he did it. When he did it, he died for it. And that
is not all. He rose from the dead in order to give that final victory of truth
over lies. The Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life,”
is the same Christ who said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Both
have the same degree of validity. They have come from the same person who gave
witness to the unquestionable credibility of both statements. Thus, if his
person is life, this goes on to say that his person as the
resurrection is the same person who is the way and the truth.
Meaning, the resurrection is not only true,
but also the truth. And so, he who does not believe in the resurrection rejects
the truth and makes him a liar.
Here, we see
the big difference. If the God we have is he who cannot deceive, he is also
that God who cannot be deceived even by anyone who refuses to accept the truth.
In the same manner, the resurrection is the way and the life, for indeed, the resurrection is the way to life. So, he who
believes in him, even though he dies will live, and he who lives and believes
never dies (cf Jn 11:25-26).
c. Third, the
resurrection makes Christianity different. There are other great religions in
the world. And no doubt, they too bring
enormous influence to mankind, society and civilization. But it is only
Christianity, which preaches about the resurrection. And if ever the
resurrection has become an irreplaceable dogma of faith, and if ever
Christianity preaches it with utmost certainty and credibility, it is all
because her founder himself had risen from dead. Other religions may perhaps
make indelible imprints of their greatness by giving sense of immortality to
their founders and their teachings. What Christianity offers is not only a
sense of immortality but also the genuine meaning of eternity.
Behold, Christ is risen Alleluia, alleluia!