Their hero, leader and mentor had just been brutally crucified.  His betrayer had been amongst them - one of their own.  The eleven remaining apostles were now confused, deeply discouraged and afraid.  What now?

     Some of the faithful women had gone to the Lord’s tomb early on the first day of the week.  Upon their arrival, they found that the stone which sealed His tomb had been rolled back and the tomb was empty.  As Mary Magdalene ran to tell Peter and John, an angel appeared to the other women who remained at the tomb and told them, “...he is risen...” (Matt. 28:7).  The angel instructed them to “...go your way, tell his disciples...” (Mark 16:7).  Peter and John, having received word from Mary, ran to the tomb and saw first hand that the body of Jesus was gone.  “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.  Then the disciples went away again unto their own home” (John 20:9-10).  Meanwhile, while Mary lingered outside the tomb, Jesus made His first post-crucifixion appearance.  Mary then went to the apostles “...as they mourned and wept.  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed

not” (Mark 16:10-11). 

     Jesus’ second appearance was to the other women who had visited the tomb (see Matt. 28:8-10).  They, too, “...returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest” (Luke 24:9) “...and they believed them not” (Luke 24:11).  Later, as two of the disciples made their way to Emmaus, Jesus revealed Himself to them.  In response, “...they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed...” (Luke 24:33-34). 

     This was the best news that the disciples could have possibly heard.  Their hero, leader and mentor was no longer dead.  He was risen!  Yet, they struggled to comprehend and accept this wonderful news.  Up to that point, they hadn’t seen the risen Lord themselves.  However, that was about to change.  “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you” (Luke 24:36).  “But Thomas, one of the twelve...was not with them when Jesus came” (John 20:24).  How excited the disciples must have been when they saw Thomas.  They could confirm to him the fact that Jesus was risen.  They had seen Him with their own eyes.  But, Thomas would have doubts until eight days later when Jesus once again appeared.  It was on that occasion that Thomas

exclaimed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). 

     Due to the fact that the Lord was risen - and therefore victorious over sin and death - the confused, discouraged and fearful disciples became determined, bold, courageous exclaimers of the Gospel.  What a difference the resurrection of Jesus made! 

     Thanks to the inspired Word of God, we can know that Jesus is indeed risen.  With such knowledge, let’s be determined, bold and courageous servants of our risen Lord.