Eye-Witnesses

And that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.                                             I Corinthians 15:5-8

 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was an event which was verified by the eye-witness testimony of over 500 people. Just as a multitude of the heavenly host proclaimed His birth (Luke 2:13), a throng of humanity celebrated His victory over death.

 

Whenever I read passages about those who knew Jesus when he lived as a man, I am awed at the privilege these individuals experienced. Even to be in the company of these witnesses as the Corinthian believers were would have been amazing.

 

For those of us living now who have embraced Christ, our time of seeing Jesus face-to-face is yet to come. What a glorious day that will be! To see His smile, feel His enthusiastic hug, and hear His voice of greeting will be more than worth the wait. We know that day is coming because we know He lives. We know He lives because of the eye-witnesses who saw Him after His resurrection.

 

In the Old Testament law, a case in court was decided on the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15). In the case of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God provided over 250 times the minimum number of eye-witnesses. Nothing was left to chance or the devil’s scheme to wipe this event from memory.

 

Jesus was far from an obscure religious teacher living in a backwater village. He was followed by throngs (Matt. 4:25), fed multitudes (Matt. 14:15-21), and healed whole crowds of the sick and hurting (Matt. 15:30).

 

Our God is not stingy. His hands are open for whosoever will to receive love, joy, and hope from His hand. Our greatest hope is to meet the living Christ and witness Him with our own eyes that we might join the “great cloud of witnesses” who have already seen him (Heb. 12:1).