“Ten Questions in the Resurrection Story”
[1] “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16:3). This question represents the inadequacy of our human response to life’s problems when God is waiting to give us His solutions!
[2] The angel asked the women: “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). This is a question that must be answered in the hearts of all people! We should never live as if our Lord is dead—He is alive!
[3] Peter’s question was silent: “[Peter] went away to his home, marveling at what had happened” (Luke 24:12). When Peter and John ran to the garden and found the empty tomb, they had to ask themselves: “What does this mean—if Jesus was alive, what would happen next? How would this change things?” And we should do the same: what does it mean to me personally that Jesus is alive today? If it is true that he arose so he could live in me, how must that impact my life?
[4] Jesus actually asked Mary two questions: “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15). Mary did not recognize Him at first because she was not looking for a living person. This is the question for us to consider: are we looking every day for the living Christ so we can spend time with Him?
[5-6-7] I paraphrase three questions. Jesus asked Cleopas and his companion: “What are you talking about as you walk?” They replied, “Do you not know about all the things that have happened?” And He asked, “What things.” This led to Jesus explaining to them “the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). This is why we repeat the Easter story over and over, so that we can know from Scripture the truth about Jesus!
[8] Jesus asked them: “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26). Jesus confirmed that His death was a fulfillment of Scripture and that He was now alive.
[9] The two invited Jesus to stay with them, which led to their recognizing Him. They pondered this question: “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us” (Luke 24:32). When we spend time with the living Christ and His word, our hearts will burn within us as we confirm the reality of His call upon our life!
[10] Jesus asked the disciples who had gathered in the upper room: “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts” (Luke 24:38). Jesus could ask us this question every time we are troubled, or afraid, or even doubtful. He is alive! We say with Paul, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
-Al Gary
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