The Patriot Post® · Weekend Review: The Story of Easter
By Rebecca Hagelin
Without Good Friday, there would be no Easter. Without Easter, there would be no Christianity, so let us consider the story again and learn what we can from it.
On the third day after his death, a group of women went to visit the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices, as was customary in the day. But when they arrived, an angel greeted them and showed them that the tomb was empty. “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” (Luke 24:5-7).
They rushed back to tell everyone what had happened, “but the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.” (Luke 24:11). The disciples were so consumed by their disappointment and hurt that they didn’t dare believe the good news. It wasn’t until Jesus appeared to them and showed them his wounds that they finally believed.
Have you ever thought about how strange it is that God raised Jesus from the dead but didn’t heal his wounds in the process? In her book, Feed My Shepherds, Flora Slosson Wuellner addresses this anomaly:
> Why did Jesus still have wounds on His risen body? The traditional answer is that the wounds proved it was really he…But I believe the wounds had a deeper meaning with radically transforming implications that affect us through the ages. I believe the wounds were the sure sign that the eternal God through Jesus has never and will never ignore, negate, minimize, or transcend the significance of human woundedness. The risen Jesus is not so swallowed up in glory that he is beyond our reach, beyond our cries.
It wasn’t until after many of the disciples saw Jesus’ wounds that they finally believed. These disciples were so wounded themselves that they were blind to the glory, and closed off to the Good News that was standing in front of them. Their personal hurt weakened their faith and they couldn’t bring themselves to believe.
Jesus didn’t condemn them for their lack of faith. Instead, he showed them his wounds. He even invited Thomas to touch the nail piercings in his hands and side – to not only see, but also touch so he could believe. Jesus knew that wounded people have a hard time moving past their hurt to accept healing.
The Infinite Creator not only gave up His Godhood to become like us, He let the weight of the world crush him so he could become one of us. He identifies with our woundedness so that we can trust him. And when we trust him, he can bring us up out of the brokenness to find new life in God’s power, just like he did. His life defeats death and his wounds defeat our doubts.
Although we are all broken and hurting, I pray “that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…” (Ephesians 1:19-20).