Lesson Five • Resurrection Clothes
Pastor Noble Baird
Maybe it is just me, but many times throughout my life, it does not matter how many times I am told something or warned about something, until I experience it or find out for myself, I do not fully believe the gravity or outcome of what I am told.
In John 20:1-9, we read the account of the disciples’ revelation of Christ’s resurrection. “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.”
Before Christ’s crucifixion, He had told them many times that in order to fulfill the scriptures and the Father’s will, He must die, but would raise from the dead. This was not a parable or hyperbole, Jesus taught, and the scriptures as well, that He would physically rise again. Yet, as the disciples heard, were taught, and even saw the linens lying alone, they were still left in a state of awe and doubt; but this was the moment, they saw and believed.
As we come to the close of this Easter series, I want to encourage you to remember the truth of the Gospel. While it can be so easy to say, “When I see it, then I will believe it,” we are called to have faith and trust without physically seeing. Jesus has an interaction with Thomas just a little while after this passage. He reminds Thomas of the importance of true faith without prerequisites. In John 20:29, we read, “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”