The Resurrection of Christ: Part 2
Dr. Rafat Amari
The resurrection met the test for those who were seriously doubtful and skeptical.
Doubting Thomas was absent when the risen Christ appeared to the disciples. Thomas said,
“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and
put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” He was not disappointed. After eight days, His
disciples were again together in a room and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here and look at my hands. Reach your hand here and put it into my side. Do not be
unbelieving, but believing.” Then Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Therefore, we see that Christ dealt with kindness toward Thomas who doubted His resurrection. Jesus helped him weigh the evidence, and gave him faith to believe. On the contrary, Mohammed killed those who doubted his claims.
Please consider the following illustration. In 1953 Hillary and Tenzing, a British team, put their
feet on the top of Mount Everest in the Himalayan Mountains. Thus, the highest point on earth
had been trodden by man. No one today would say, “The top of Everest has not yet been
discovered unless I put my feet on the top of the mountain.” Similarly, the resurrection was
acknowledged by Thomas, a most skeptical and doubtful critic, who did not believe until he put
his finger into the print of the nails, and put his hand into Jesus’ side where He was pierced.
Therefore, Thomas touched Him and became convinced about the truth of the resurrection. Thomas became a representative of many doubters and skeptics throughout the years.
The resurrection dealt with the disappointment of His followers who saw Him crucified. It
brought faith to people who were unaware the resurrection was a fulfillment of the
prophecies of the Old Testament. The resurrection of Christ was not an image painted on a wall. It was not a hallucination or a piece of fiction. But the risen Christ appeared to many people gathered together. He not only appeared to them, but He sat with them and ate with them. He continued to appear to them for 40 days, instructing them to evangelize the whole world, not with the sword but with the same love He had already demonstrated on the cross.
He appeared in person on the day of the resurrection to two disappointed disciples, who had left the room before He appeared to the whole group that night. This happened on the way to the village of Emmaus near Jerusalem. As the disciples walked to Emmaus, He accompanied them explaining the prophecies of the Old Testament, which foretold of His death and resurrection; but they failed to recognize Him.
Finally, He entered into a house with them, and sat with them at the table. He took bread, gave
thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. The Bible says their eyes were opened, and they
recognized Him. Then He disappeared from their sight. They said to one another, “Did not our
hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” This was before His appearance to a larger group that same night.
Copyright 2006 by Dr. Rafat Amari. All Rights Reserved.