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Changed by the cross, and…

After last week’s article (“Unchanged by the Cross?”) in which we noticed how various people were affected by witnessing the crucifixion of Christ, a good friend and brother reminded me that the greatest impact came from witnessing the resurrected rather than the crucified Christ. My friend is right, so let’s explore that a bit. Last night’s Discovery Channel program on the alleged “Jesus Tomb” highlights the importance of the resurrection to our Christian faith. For as Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15.17). (By the way, if you wish to read a good critique of Discovery’s claims, see the several posts at http://benwitherington.blogspot.com.)

I just read through all the resurrection accounts, and it is interesting to see the initial responses of the disciples. Of course, one major difference between the crucifixion and the resurrection is that while many unbelievers (both Jew and Gentile) witnessed the crucifixion, only disciples of Jesus witnessed the resurrection. Perhaps they were the only ones whose hearts were prepared to accept it, for even seeing someone raised from the dead is no guarantee that a person will be changed (cf. Lk 16.31; Jn 11.47-53; 12.9-10). Therefore the resurrection may not be the whole story. The disciples themselves were hard to convince, and even after the resurrected Jesus had been with them for nearly forty days, they still struggled with lingering doubts (Mt 28.17).

If that is so, what then brought the great change we see in the disciples by the time of Acts 2, where their conviction is unwavering? What brought such a great change that they were willing to suffer and die for their belief? As I pointed out last week, the cross began to bring about a change, as it seemed to melt all but the hardest of hearts. The empty tomb and reports brought further change, such as causing them to wonder (Lk 12.24) and to need an explanation (and men are still trying to invent explanations). The appearances of Jesus alive from the dead changed them yet further, bringing them to the point of belief. Any lingering doubt was because it seemed too good to be true (Lk 24.41). But as powerful and convicting as it was to see Jesus alive again, he didn’t leave it even at that. He further turned them to the Scriptures (Lk 24.25-27; 44-46). Notice especially Lk 24.32: “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while he was explaining the Scriptures to us?” It seems that it was not until the disciples saw the cross and the resurrection in light of the Old Testament prophecies that they came fully to believe. As someone said, the Scriptures took them from the heartache of the cross to the “heart burn” of the resurrection. Therefore, Peter bolstered his eyewitness account with testimony from the Scripture, and the “heart burn” became heart piercing (Acts 2.22-36). But there was one more convicting power we have not yet mentioned: the Holy Spirit. The dramatic change between Mt 27.17 and Acts 2 did not occur until after the Holy Spirit came upon them. And the same can be said for all believers thereafter. While even before receiving the Holy Spirit there was conviction enough to pierce the heart and bring a faith response (Acts 2.37-38), after receiving the Holy Spirit the burning and pierced hearts became hearts on fire. The cross, the empty tomb, the resurrected Jesus, the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit: a heart-changing combination. What an amazing God we have!