The Elementary Doctrine Of Christ

Long ago early on a Sunday morning our Lord and Savior Jesus rose from the dead. Understandably some doubted this miraculous event. God, knowing the skeptical nature of man provided sufficient evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. To establish a truth, two or three witnesses had to see the risen Savior firsthand.

First He had angels announce to a group of women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna and other women) who came to the tomb where He was buried, that, ‘He had risen from the dead’, and they invited them into the tomb to see the place where He had lain.

Then Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene alone at the tomb and told her to tell His disciples He had risen and that He would meet with them later. Peter and John went into the empty tomb and saw His burial clothes neatly folded there.

Two disciples who were on their way to the town of Emmaus that day met Jesus on the road and He explained to them the scriptures concerning the Savior, and He appeared also to the eleven apostles on a few occasions, eating in front of them, and showing them His wounds from the crucifixion.

At some point, though unrecorded, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 that the Lord appeared to Peter and James and more than five hundred disciples at one time, and finally to Paul. So wide known had the resurrection of Jesus become that “He has risen” became a common greeting among the brotherhood.

God proved His plan of salvation by giving proof of a risen Savior.

— Jim Lokenbauer