The Basis of Resurrection Belief

S - "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus’ dearest follower and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don’t know where they have put him.” … The follower who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other follower did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise from the dead." John 20 TS

O - The very first followers of Jesus did not believe in his resurrection because the Scriptures foretold it.  They believed because they met, engaged, experienced the resurrected Jesus. Believing in the resurrection in principle because others do and/or because the Scriptures record it is NOT what Jesus or heaven has in mind.  From the first followers to the most recent, belief in Jesus and the resurrection comes not as a result of information but as the result of meeting the resurrected One. It is a function of spiritual revelation, not a conclusion of theological and historical assessments. Faith (belief, trust) is not a theological conclusion but a relational exchange … it is reliance on and confidence in a person.  Once you meet him … resurrection is a foregone conclusion.   

A - While there is "evidence that demands a verdict" this is not the basis of the faith once for all entrusted to that original group of followers. Faith in Jesus and in his resurrection is not based on a verdict but an encounter.  The encounter can come while the evidence is being reviewed but the two are not synonymous. John put it this way describing the basis of his faith: "We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us." 1 John1:1-2 NLT This is the breath-taking beauty of heaven’s invitation to all people - Jesus is to be known not just known about. According to Jesus who is resurrection life - The Kingdom of God is relationships … literally brothers and sisters, sons and daughters not scribes and debaters. 

P - God who sent Jesus to our world,

Thank you for wanting and offering us all a relationship rather than a religion. In the person of Jesus we experience the reality that we are loved and wanted … and the depth of this is in knowing him not just about him. I admit this is only possible by your direct activity in spirit - an ongoing relationship where your will and mine are required. Yes to you and all you have in mind in Jesus.

Steve