Belief Changes a Person

Christ is Risen!

They say seeing is believing. They are correct, but if we don’t actually see with our eyes, can we still believe? As they Apostles began to preach about the risen Christ, one message was consistent. Jesus who was crucified was God. Seeing Him after the resurrection allowed the Apostles to belief without doubt this truth. It was enough to change them forever.

It was just a few days ago they were hidden in a room in fear and grief. They believed their hope was gone. All the effort they put into Jesus for three years seemed all at once to be crushed by His death on the cross. Seeing Him just days later alive was enough to change their fear into faith and their grief into joy. It gave them courage to speak bolding about Christ to anyone who would listen.

In those days, Peter said to the people, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. For thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let thy Holy One see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.’ “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Acts 2.22-38

One reason we greet each other with Christ is Risen for forty days is to share our joy and new hope. We were just sitting in the dark a few days ago when the priest came out of the Holy of Holies so we could ‘come receive’ the Light of Christ. Just like the Apostles were changed, we too are changed when we receive the Light every year at Pascha. I challenge anyone to experience the Resurrection Service of Pascha and not be moved.

The Church is the living memory of the events that took place more than two thousand years ago. The response of the crowd to Peter’s words about the Risen Christ was natural. “What should we do?” They were changed by the news that Peter was sharing with them. Even if they didn’t see Christ alive, by that time they knew others who had seen Him risen.

Between their friends’ eyewitness and the words of the Apostles, the crowds came to belief in Christ. The same thing can happen today, but it can only happen if we allow the events of the past few days to change us.

No matter how much or little you believed in the past, I invite you to allow your heart to open wide. The Apostles believed at first, then doubted, then finally came full circle to boldness in front of the crowd. The same thing can happen in your life if you allow it, but something must change.

Pascha must become more than just candles and celebrations. Pascha must become the renewed hope for a better life in Christ. It must become the rekindled faith in God that gives courage in the face of persecution. Ask yourself one basic question. “Do I really believe Christ is Risen?” If you do, then let it change you.