The first one to proclaim the Lord’s resurrection was an angel. He told the women what had happened and urged them to tell the apostles what had happened. Mark indicates that they were too afraid. Only one of them, Mary Magdalene did as the angel asked, but only after Jesus appeared to her in the flesh. Mary had a lot to be thankful to Jesus for: he had cast 7 demons out of her. Out of love for Jesus she became the first one to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead.
We should not fault the disciples for being unwilling to believe Mary. After all, what Jesus had accomplished was something far beyond their capacity to understand for no one had ever risen from the dead on their own power. It was one thing for Jesus to raise others, but for Him to raise Himself that was beyond the scope of reason. For this reason, though many people today scoff at the idea of the Resurrection labeling it a mere myth, the apostles could not have created such an unbelievable story. The apostles were skeptical too because the story was so bizarre, This is why Jesus had to appear to them in the flesh and tell them to go and preach the gospel about Him. To encourage them He promised that signs, miracles and wonders would confirm their message. They would also be able to cast out demons for Jesus would work through them.
We too are called to preach the gospel as the apostles were since these promises still apply. The greatest and most common of these signs is the evidence lives that have been dramatically changed.
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