All Minister's Letters

Mar 2008	They Met at Calvary
Apr 2008	Keeping the Easter Rumour Alive
May 2008	The Way to Pentecost
Jun 2008	Where our Unity lies
Jul 2008	The Californian Redwood
Sep 2008	"Dwight L. Moody, 1837-99"
Oct 2008	Nine Marks of a Good Church
Nov 2008	Mammon
Dec 2008	Advent and the Evangelists
Mar 2009	A Pattern for Lent
Apr 2009	We have seen His Glory
May 2009	Witnesses To The Resurrection
Jun 2009	The Holy Trinity

Minister's Letter - May 2009

Witnesses To The Resurrection

WITNESSES TO THE RESURRECTION

The Four Supernatural Witnesses

God’s raising of Christ from the dead was not just about the testimony of human beings. The resurrection of Christ was the moment of the new creation so all of nature was drawn into the event.

Matthew therefore tells us there was an earthquake which – of course – greatly assisted the moving of the stone away from the tomb.

We are also told that the tomb was empty. Christ was no longer physically present in the tomb. He had been released and in his risen glory he was everywhere.

The angels of God were present at the resurrection as they had been present at the annunciation to Mary, at the nativity in Bethlehem, as those who brought strength to Christ in the garden, and they would appear again at the Ascension. Angels are always there at the heart of salvation.

The risen Christ appeared when Upper Room doors were closed. The risen Lord comes to us immediately. There is no door that is closed to him – no hiding place.

The Five Corporate Witnesses

It is important that some of the witnesses to the resurrection were not alone when they saw Jesus. Afterwards they could share their experiences!

Peter and John at the tomb – running there - seeing and believing. The women at the tomb – puzzled – confused – heartbroken – then filled with Easter joy.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus encountered Christ in the scriptures and in the breaking of the bread.

The ten disciples in the upper room and on one occasion 500 of the Lord’s disciples saw him at once!

The Christian faith is a corporate experience. In the community of the resurrection we belong to each other. Our faith is a shared faith.

The Six Individual Witnesses

One of the great joys of the Easter gospel is the testimony of individuals to whom the Lord appeared.

We begin with Mary of Magdala meeting Christ in the garden. We think of the conversation between Jesus and Peter by the lakeside.

We recall the encounter between Jesus and Thomas in the upper room when Thomas was invited to have his doubts healed by touching the wounds of his risen Lord. We are encouraged in our family relationships to think of that occasion when the risen Christ appeared to James – his own brother.

And - Saint Paul going to Damascus saying – last of all he appeared to me! No – last of all he appears to you and to me!

Norman Wallwork