Title: The Subject of Resurrection Faith
Contents
about:blank
Content
Title: The Subject of Resurrection Faith
Text: Isaiah 53:10-12, John 20:11-18
What are the words before death and the grave? Because of his longing for his mother, who passed away on the 7th day after his birth, the Buddhist Buddha, Sakyamuni, eventually walks the path of a homeless person with the pain in his heart. He left home at the age of 29, saw fame early in the morning at the age of 35, realized the truth, and taught ‘liberation’ until he fulfilled his command at the age of 80. These are the words he said before his death while teaching the way to liberation from reincarnation and realizing the free life. “Bhikkhus, I say goodbye to you. Every element of existence is changeable and flowing. Work hard for your own liberation.” He spoke of liberation through enlightenment.
Confucius, who lost his father at the age of three and was fond of learning even in a poor environment, said this. “I set my mind to learning at fifteen, set my mind at thirty, no doubt at forty, no doubt at fifty, one thousand commandments at fifty, one listened to all things at sixty, and naturally understood, seventy, even if I did whatever my heart desires. It was not against the law” (analogous). Before he passed away at the age of 74, he said these words while holding a cane and rioting. “Is Taesan going to fall? Do you want your sheep to be broken? Does an iron man want to rule?” These are the words spoken by a disciple named Baek Woo while he was ill. “Is there no hope of resuscitation? How could this person have a disease like this, how could this person have a disease like this?” He lived in an era, faced the problem of human suffering, and taught to practice great self-preparation, liberation, wisdom and filial piety, but they cannot be regarded as those who solved the problem of death.
These are the words of our Savior, Jesus Christ. “I am the resurrection. It is life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26). These are the words to Martha and Mary, who had no choice but to weep over the death of their brother, the tomb of Lazarus. He had the tomb door moved, and he called Lazarus, who smelled dead. “Come out, Lazarus” (John 11:43). Today is Easter Sunday. Where does resurrection faith come from? Does the ‘empty tomb’ testify to Jesus’ resurrection? Can't the resurrection of Jesus be denied just by looking at the empty tomb? The first to witness the empty tomb were the soldiers guarding the tomb (Matthew 28:11). The first reaction was not a resurrection belief, but a plausible lie. It is the disciples' theory that Jesus' body was a thief (Matthew 28:11-15).
The disciples of Jesus who confirmed the empty tomb also thought of the thief of Jesus' body in a sense, except for the content (John 20:1-15). Peter and John, who ran to hear the story of Mary Magdalene's empty tomb, did not confirm the resurrection of Jesus. It was to confirm that the body was missing (the thief). So, having found the empty tomb, Peter and John return to their home (John 20:10). The people of Jesus have faith in the resurrection through meeting the risen Lord. According to the record, Mary Magdalene was the first (John 20:16-18). He appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). That evening, the Lord appeared to the disciples who were missing Thomas (John 20:19-23), and after eight days, Thomas appeared again with him (John 20:26-29). The subject of resurrection faith is the resurrected Jesus Christ. “Do not be unbelievers, but become believers” (John 20:27).