1 Corinthians 15:6

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

This evening’s Bible passage is 1 Cor. 15:6: “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”

We’re still in the forty-day period between Easter Sunday and Ascension Day (April 12-May 21 this year). If (God forbid!) I’d been planning Christ’s resurrection appearances with daily COVID-19 meditations in mind, I’d have made sure there were at least forty separate resurrection appearances, so that a daily mediator could keep Christ’s resurrection before readers on a daily basis for the full forty-day period without repetition.

But the number of resurrection appearances is surprisingly small. I count eleven at the most: Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:11-18); Simon Peter (Lk 14:34), Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-32); “the eleven [disciples: actually ten] and those who were with them” (Lk 24:33-48); the disciples, this time including Thomas (Jn 20:24-29); breakfast with seven disciples beside the Sea of Tiberias (Jn 21:1-23); possibly Joseph Barsabbas and Justus Matthias, each of whom was considered qualified to join the eleven as “a witness to his resurrection” (Acts. 1:22-23); “more than five hundred brothers at one time” (1 Cor 15:6); James (1 Cor 15:7); and Christ’s ascension (Matt 28:16-20; Lk 24:50-52).

Only eleven appearances at most over forty days, all but one of them to an individual or to a small group. At least Paul mentions that most of the five hundred “are still alive” and therefore can bear living witness to what they experienced, but if (God forbid!) I’d been in charge of resurrection publicity, I’d have made much more of a fuss of this five-hundred-at-a-time extravaganza.

Most of these appearances are pretty ordinary, too. No mention of angels, other than the pair at the empty tomb. No flashy miracles, although entering locked rooms (Jn 20:19, 26) and helping the disciples catch 153 large fish (Jn 21:11) is quietly impressive. But compare the resurrection appearances with the Nativity narrative, which has choirs of angels and three wealthy magi following a star all the way from the distant east. Or compare the appearances to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of fire, the apostles miraculously preached the gospel in over a dozen different languages unknown to them beforehand, and “about three thousand souls” were baptized into the fledgling church.

Why are the resurrection appearances so irregular and so low-key? Perhaps a clue lies in Jesus’s observation to Thomas: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (Jn 20:29). Thomas already had the testimony of those who had seen and heard the risen Christ, but he wanted his own tangible proof. It’s the nature of the case that we who have lived since the Ascension can’t have anything like the tangible proof granted to Thomas. What we have instead is the uneven apostolic testimony and a God-given faith that is stronger and more durable than any merely human faith that demands all the answers before it commits. Having such a faith, Jesus says, is a greater blessing than any number of tangible proofs or gaudy marketing materials.

In fact, Christians depend on the testimony of the apostles not only for our knowledge of the resurrection, but for everything we can know about Christ’s thirty-some years of life on earth. There’s a lot else we might like to know, but as John himself points out, imagine how many books that would take (Jn 21:25)! We have to make do with what we have.

John was well aware of our need for the apostolic testimony: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that your joy may be complete.”

The apostolic testimony isn’t flashy. It wasn’t dreamed up by a marketing expert. It’s patchy at times. But it’s real, it’s down to earth, it’s the words of those who heard, saw, and touched the living Christ. Our need to depend on the apostles’ testimony for our knowledge of Christ’s resurrection simply emphasizes the truth that we’re no less dependent for our knowledge of pretty much everything else in the New Testament.

Would I like to know more about the five hundred who saw the risen Christ at one time? Part of me says, “Yes, of course. Where were they? Who were they? What was it like? Were there angels?” The better part of me says that I’m content with what God has given me, that I’m glad for the reminder that I don’t need to know all the answers, and that I’m grateful beyond words for the God-given gift of faith that sustains me even when I’m shut in during a pandemic and have no reliable knowledge of what the future holds. What I do I know, because the Bible tells me so, is the simple truth that that God loves me, that Jesus rose from the dead, and that his love for me—and for you—is steadfast. 

Would you join me in song again?

Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Your brother in Christ,

Max