Surprises: Three
days later, reports began to spread that the grave was empty, and that Jesus
had risen from the dead. At first, not one of the disciples believed these
rumors, but in the coming days, one by one and in larger groups, they claimed
to have encounters with the risen Jesus. Then occurred perhaps the strangest
event of all.
Remember, for two thousand years the descendants
of Abraham had guarded their faith, kept their distinctiveness, monitored their
faithfulness, resisted all pressures to intermarry or adopt the religious
practices of other nations or in any way allow their unique commitment to
monotheism to be polluted or diluted. Isolation, separation, distinction were
at the core of their being. And now, the disciples report, Jesus is telling
them to bring the good news of this new kingdom to the entire world, to every
nation, every religion, every culture, every language. Further, they came to
understand that Jesus’ death had not been a colossal accident, but rather was
part of God’s plan: in some mysterious way, as Jesus suffered and died, he was
absorbing and paying for the wrongs of the whole human race. Now, the whole
human race could receive forgiveness and reconciliation to God: it would be as
simple as asking, seeking, and entering an open door.
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