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Sometimes, modern day sophisticates talk about folks in the Bible as if they were merely uneducated, gullible, bumpkins who unquestioningly accepted any super-natural hocus pocus.
But listen to their reactions to the resurrection events as interpreted by various translations (and note how the translators sometimes struggle to capture the full sense of the underlying Greek):
-
puzzled, perplexed, did not know what to think
(Luke 24:4, the women's reaction on finding the tomb open and empty) -
awe struck, terrified
(Luke 24:5, the women's reaction on the sudden appearance of the two men in dazzling white robes) -
didn't believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up, seemed like an idle tale, did not believe them, these words appeared to them as nonsense, the story sounded like a fairy tale
(Luke 24:11, the apostles reaction on hearing the report of the women) -
wondered, amazed, marveled, puzzled, shaking his head
(Luke 24:12, Peter's reaction at seeing the empty tomb) -
didn't we feel on fire, were not our hearts burning within us, didn't it warm our hearts, their hearts had felt strangely warmed
(Luke 24:32, two followers recall how they felt while Jesus - whom they had not recognized - explained the scriptures to them as they walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus) -
terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost, in a state of alarm and fright, frightened and terrified, startled and frightened, scared half to death
(Luke 24:37, the disciples reaction when Jesus first appears to them) -
they still couldn't believe what they were seeing, in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, they were so glad and amazed they could not believe it, their joy was so great that they still could not believe it as they were dumbfounded, they stood there undecided - filled with joy and doubt
(Luke 24:41, the disciples reaction after Jesus shows them his wounds)
These are not the reactions of bumpkins.
In fact, like societies today in which "paranormal" experiences are still considered normal, the followers of Jesus were quite sophisticated in distinguishing different types of nonstandard experiences.
The details reported in Luke make it very clear that it was the same body that was crucified that is now resurrected (see the wounds, Luke 24:39); and what they are seeing is not a ghost (eating before their eyes, Luke 24:43).
One can almost hear the first witnesses of the resurrection patiently explaining to their incredulous friends and family:
No really, the empty tomb wasn't a hoax.
We didn't go there when no was looking and take his body secretly ourselves (see Matthew 28:11-15).No really, we aren't hallucinating.
Just the opposite, our eyes have been opened, our minds have been opened to new understanding of the scriptures.No really, it wasn't "God's Word" re-appearing.
It was the actual Jesus who died on the cross - we saw the wounds.No really, it wasn't a ghost.
We saw him eat right before our eyes.
However, the Jesus-who-died-on-the-cross-and-has-been-raised has not come back simply to take up his old job.
The now-resurrected-Jesus once again patiently explains "my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you." (Note how the now-resurrected-Jesus who is present now with the disciples makes an odd past-tense, third person reference to that time before, "while I was still with you." There is continuity but also distinction between Jesus then and Jesus now.)
And then, in effect the now-resurrected-Jesus says, "Over to you."
"Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed." Over to you. You are the called-into-court-sworn-witnesses of these things. Get ready to testify to the truth and nothing but the truth. Proclaim it.
And shakily at first, that is what they did. And that is how the Greek word for "witness" has come to be known and used as an English word - martyr. Over to you.
David Ewart,
www.davidewart.ca
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