My Easter Certainty

Many of us struggle with our belief in Christ's resurrection from time-to-time. Is there a central truth--evidence of Jesus' return from death and public appearances--that confirms your faith in the Easter story?

Here is mine: before the crucifixion, Jesus' apostles were always missing the point and asking the wrong questions. What a ragtag bunch. They saw him perform miracles and heard his wonderous teachings and yet Jesus remarked "How much longer do I have to put up with you schmucks?" (ok, that's a paraphrase). After the crucifixion, Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times. They ran and hid, trying to figure out what to do next.

And then He arose. And they saw him. They touched him. And this ragtag bunch of miscreants went out and changed the world and, most of them, were tortured and put to death for their actions.

If they hadn't seen him alive again and they weren't so certain in the truth of the resurrection, would they have subjected themselves to the mercy of the state for the Gospel of Christ?

It's doubtful, considering their behavior BEFORE they saw Jesus alive and among them following the resurrection. Their change of behavior, to me, is proof that the resurrection happened. If they hadn't seen him post-resurrection, they could have quietly disappeared into the crowd and lived out their lives in obscurity.

He Arose! Thank God!

Have a blessed Easter!