Devotional: God Was Patient Then – And Still Is

By Greg West

Easter has always been a time of mixed emotions and varied attitudes for people. Let's take a look at some of the characters that are described in the New Testament.

The religious leaders had a deep hatred for Jesus and were very suspicious of his disciples. So they convinced Pilate to secure the tomb with a special seal and some Roman soldiers (Mt. 27:62-66). The guards at the tomb became paralyzed with fear after they experienced the power of God (Mt. 28:2-4). Then there were a few faithful women who went to the tomb to pay their respects to their dear friend Jesus. They were sad and confused by the pain, suffering and death of Jesus. But when they arrived at the tomb, another emotion was added. When they saw the stone rolled away and the angel of the Lord, they were very surprised and now even more confused (Mk. 16:1-7). A few minutes later, we see that these women were still afraid, yet filled with joy. And when they saw Jesus alive again, they fell to their knees in humility and worshiped (Mt. 28:8-9).

There were those who were curious. John and Peter ran to see if the reports they had heard from the women were indeed true (John 20:1-7). They ran to the tomb because they needed first-hand information. One of the amazing things about John is that he saw and believed, yet still did not fully comprehend what this all meant (John 20:8-9).

Of course, there are also those who were immobilized by doubt. A full week after the resurrection, Thomas still had not checked things out for himself. He wanted first-hand proof, but couldn't bring himself to get moving like John and Peter. He apparently was avoiding everyone who reminded him of Jesus for he was not with the disciples on that first Easter (John 20:19-25). As a result, Thomas is forever known as "doubting Thomas." We still use that term for anyone who questions the reality of things that are not obvious to everyone else.

Times have not changed over the course of history. The same emotions and attitudes that were present that first Easter are here today. There are still people who hate Jesus, his followers and everything they stand for. There are still people who are suspicious of all things surrounding the beliefs of Christians and believe they are a bunch of deceivers. They believe the resurrection of Jesus was a hoax, a completely fabricated story. There are still people who are confused. They look at the evidence and it just doesn't make any sense to them. There are still people who are scared by what they have heard, some to the point of paralysis. They want to believe, but are fearful of being in the presence of such awesome power. There are still people who doubt. They can't trust someone else's testimony. They need first-hand experience. And then there are people who find themselves in the presence of Jesus in all His glory and fall at his feet and worship him!

Perhaps you can relate to some of these attitudes and emotions. Over the course of my life, I have experienced each of them to varying degrees. The amazing thing is that God didn't hold it against me when I hated him and Christian people like the religious leaders. He didn't get mad at me when my doubt led to inaction like Thomas. God wasn't disappointed when I was confused about what I saw and experienced like the first witnesses to the resurrection. God didn't think I was dumb when I believed but didn't completely understand - like John. God was patient with those men and women of the first century. And he still shows it to all of us today (2 Peter 3:9).

The resurrection is not something we can fully wrap our human minds around in an instant. We all need time. We all need information and a certain amount of "living" proof. If you are confused about the resurrection, don't let it stop you from seeking. I believe God will provide the "evidence" you need at just the right time. If you are afraid, please don't let that immobilize you. God wants to give you confidence and hope. The important thing is that we keep our eyes and ears and minds and hearts open to the possibilities of a loving and personal God. If we do, then one day we will find ourselves falling down in awe at the feet of the resurrected Jesus. My hope and prayer is that each of you will come to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.

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