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What did the resurrection mean to the disciples?
What did the resurrection mean to the disciples?
When I read the Bible closely, I notice that the resurrection did not spur the disciples into action. They didn't set off to spread The Word that Jesus was the Son of God, at least, not right away. Instead, bizarrely, they went home to Galilee where, we're told, Peter and his fellow disciples resumed their lives as fishermen. I found this very surprising. After all, they're supposed to have witnessed an extraordinary event in human history. Were they having second thoughts about the appearances of Jesus? Could they have imagined the whole thing?
Interestingly, the Gospels do admit that some of them had doubts. Then again, there was nothing about the resurrection which suggested that it had be caused specifically by God. So there must have been something else which persuaded the disciples that Jesus was the Son of God. Well, the sources [Bible] say there was something - another miracle.
The disciples had come to Jerusalem in those final days with Jesus for the feast of Passover. It celebrated the escape, the exodus, of Moses and the Israelites from Egypt. But just 50 days later they were back. This time round, the disciples were attending the next great pilgrim festival, Pentecost. Pentecost means, literally, "fifty days". And it is 7 weeks to the day since Passover Sabbath.
The disciples were gathered in a house preparing for the Pentecost celebrations [Jewish harvest festival fifty days after Passover], when something happened which wiped away their doubts for good. It's said they heard a loud noise, like a wind from Heaven, and tongues of fire descended on them. The Bible says they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they took that as final proof that Jesus had been resurrected by God.
Miracles of Jesus
Part 3 The Resurrection 9
