| Looking at the twelve references to Jesus’ empty tomb and post-resurrection appearances (see * below), it struck me that on three of those occasions, Jesus rebuked his disciples because of their slowness in coming to believe he had risen or because of their ignorance of the Word of God – which, if they had read and believed – would have spared their grief following Jesus’ death. For the first fifty-five years of our marriage, Marcia gathered and organized everything needed to file taxes. This year, I volunteered to take over the task. Ugh! After collecting everything I thought I needed, we met with our tax man. He quickly rebuked me for not bringing in everything he instructed me to bring. Of course, there’s a difference between being instructed and understanding the instructions. So, I pushed back. We promptly stopped our verbal tussle, shook hands, and I left to gather the last pieces of Uncle Sam’s puzzle. This tax tiff got me thinking: Nowhere in those post-resurrection references will you find any disciples arguing with Jesus after he admonished them. Peter argued with his Lord when Jesus said he would be arrested and killed (Matt. 26:30-35). Mary and Martha argued with him when he failed to come quickly after their brother Lazarus died (John 11:17-33). So, why not now? Why not push back? Come on, Jesus, we saw you die. The soldier shoved a spear through your side. But no! No pushback when Jesus admonished their unbelief. Why? Of course, we don’t know for sure, but here is my guess. Because our Lord’s resurrection is THE pivotal event in human history, Jesus used his divine, indisputable sovereignty to communicate the absolute necessity of believing in and trusting the gift of life secured in his resurrection. Our Lord wanted no uncertainty about his victory over death! If we doubt the story of Moses parting the Red Sea, it won’t jeopardize our salvation. If we can’t wrap our minds around Jonah being swallowed by a great fish and then delivered safely ashore, it won’t destroy our faith. But Christ’s resurrection is in a category of miracles all by itself. As St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, the death and resurrection of Jesus is THE Gospel truth upon which we stand and have sure footing (verses 1-8). Without the resurrection of Christ, our faith has no foundation (v 14). HE AROSE! The fact that Jesus arose, the fact that Jesus conquered death and promises victory over death to all who follow him, the fact that Jesus grants life to the fullest now – even as Satan seeks to destroy all hope, those facts empower and equip us to lay down our unbelief and receive the abundance of his grace and mercy. Jesus arose! And with him, we, too, rise to newness of life! No doubt! *Mark 16:9-11; Luke 24:1-11; Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:24-29; John 21:1-14; Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:34; Acts 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 15:6; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Acts 9:3-6. | 
