Hartman column: Jesus' resurrection provides believers with confidence

Following Jesus’ arrest in Matthew 26:56, all of His disciples fled the scene. At a distance, John and Peter secretly followed the group that had arrested Jesus; Peter ended up denying that he knew Jesus and went away in great grief. John was the only one present of the 12 at Jesus’ crucifixion. Since the crucifixion, it seems that Jesus’ closest followers have been in hiding.

In John 20:19-21 and John 20:26-29, the resurrected Jesus appears to the 11 remaining disciples. What Jesus communicates through His resurrection and encounter with His followers on both the evening of His resurrection and again eight days later gives them and us great confidence.

Often, believers get hung up on the empty tomb, but the empty tomb is a sign of a greater reality. Jesus appears in a locked room, meaning material obstacles do not hinder His resurrected body. John and Peter saw empty grave clothes in the tomb, but the stone was moved aside. That open tomb, it seems, was a sign for Jesus’ followers, not a means for Jesus’ exit. It allowed them to see what had happened.

The phrase “empty tomb” is not mentioned anywhere in the Epistles. Paul, however, speaks often about Christ’s resurrection. Why?

My thought: The empty tomb merely signifies a greater reality. Jesus rose from death to die no more. My confidence isn’t in an empty tomb but in a risen Christ.

For the believer, there is no fear of death. Three times, in John 20:19, 21 and 26, Jesus says: “Peace be with you.” Jesus’ comments echo what He said during the Last Supper at John 14:27. There’s a venture His words were meant to reduce any fear of seeing Him alive and well in a secured room. At the same time, there is greater confidence that His words suggest that for the believer, there is no fear in death because we, too, will continue to live in Him.

In John 20, we learn that Jesus appeared to His disciples after His crucifixion, showing them His wounds to assure them that He was indeed the same Jesus who was executed on the cross. Despite hearing from Mary Magdalene and other women about seeing Jesus, the disciples remained skeptical and hid. They lacked confidence until they saw Jesus. Romans 8:11 assures that when the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you, that same Spirit will give life to your mortal body.

The unseen is more real than the seen. Jesus reminds the 11 in John 20:29, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 reminds us not to look at the things that are seen but to the unseen things because the unseen things are eternal.

The assurance of Jesus’ resurrection gives the believer confidence that our best days are always ahead. The assurance of Jesus’ resurrection provides the believer with confidence beyond the cares of this world. The assurance of Jesus’ resurrection gives the believer confidence that death is only the beginning of something much more excellent. Live in resurrection confidence.