| Highlights of Dawn | April 1972 |
News to Change the World
TODAY news events of national and international importance are breaking upon a bewildered world so fast that it is impossible to keep abreast of their significance, even if we could properly interpret their meaning. The flashes of news reach us from every continent of the earth, and pertain to all races and nations. For essentially a generation the great nation of China had been sealed off from any significant communication with almost all the rest of the world; and who could have imagined that in February of this year the President of the United States, with an entourage of diplomatic assistants, press reporters, and other personnel would visit the rulers of China, with the ultimate objective of establishing a more friendly relationship between the two countries, and then proceed to Communist Russia with the same purpose in mind?
Whether this visit results finally in diplomatic relations between China and the United States, or in global war, or something in between, the visit to China itself might well turn out to be the outstanding news event of the decade. Besides, other important things are happening every day, but putting them all together they come far short of the importance of an event which occurred nearly two thousand years ago, and which in April will be remembered generally with pomp and fanfare throughout the western world. We refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Our modern communication media were not on hand when Jesus was raised from the dead. Newspapers, radio, and television were not known then, so no representatives of such mass media of communication could be dispatched to interview the resurrected Jesus. And while there was no doubt that this great event had occurred, the religious rulers of the day, who had instigated Jesus’ crucifixion, caused word to go out to the world that the Master’s disciples had stolen his body from the tomb to make it appear that he had been raised from the dead, and that actually there was no resurrection.
An Angel
As nearly as the sequence of events can be established from the records available, apparently it was an angel who first announced that Jesus had been raised from the dead. This seems appropriate, for it was an angel who announced his birth. Mary Magdalene “and the other Mary” went early to the tomb after the Sabbath was over, and there they met an angel—an angel who had rolled away the stone to open the tomb—“His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.”—Matt. 28:1-3
This angel said to the two women, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”—Matt. 28:7,8
World-wide television, radio, and the press announced the President’s visit to China, and much of what occurred there, but an angel gave out the word that Jesus had been raised from the dead, and acting upon the instructions of the Lord, told those who visited the tomb to go quickly and inform his disciples. On their way to carry out this mission Jesus met them, and confirmed the instructions of the angel. He sent them to convey the news to his disciples, and to instruct them to go into Galilee, and that there he would meet them.
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:16-18) The Greek word here translated “power” has the thought particularly of the power of authority. And straightway Jesus began to use that authority. He said to the eleven:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you all way, even unto the end of the world.”—Matt. 28:19,20
Here was a system of communication, authorized by the resurrected Jesus, which was designed ultimately to carry the good news of his resurrection to all nations. It has done so, and it is still functioning. The spread of the counterfeit kingdom of Christ, called Christendom, was accomplished largely by the power of the sword, and by the cruelties of the Holy Inquisition and other means of torture or persecution. At the same time there have been faithful ambassadors of Christ who have laid down their lives communicating the good news of the Gospel to the world, an important part of which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. How blessed were those two Marys who had the opportunity, at the behest of the angel, to inform the eleven that their beloved Master was no longer dead!
The reporter Mark, in giving his account of what happened on that eventful day, includes Salome with the two Marys. Otherwise his account is essentially the same. Mark also mentions Jesus’ appearance to two of the disciples as they walked through the countryside. In this connection Mark observes that “he appeared in another form.” (Mark 16:12) Jesus appeared to his disciples on many occasions after his resurrection, but very seldom in the same form. By this he was teaching them that he was no longer the man Christ Jesus; that he was appearing in human form merely that he might be able to communicate with them in a way to convince them more readily that he had been raised from the dead.
What Mary Saw
Mary Magdalene saw Jesus in the vicinity of the tomb. She was weeping, and Jesus said unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”—John 20:15-18
What an opportunity it would have been for a news reporter to interview Mary concerning this wonderful experience of meeting her resurrected Master! She could have explained to him why she thought Jesus was the gardener. The record does not say so, but apparently he was appropriately dressed as one who would be tending the garden in which the tomb was situated. Certainly he wasn’t dressed in the clothing in which she was accustomed to seeing him before his crucifixion. That clothing had been divided among the Roman soldiers who were on guard, they having cast lots for his seamless robe.
But in appearing as a gardener, he not only would be wearing the proper clothing, but his facial expression would probably also be different, for he had again appeared in “another form.” After securing this information from Mary, a reporter might then have asked how she came to recognize her Master at all. The answer would have to be that it was from his voice. “Jesus saith unto her, Mary,” and there was no mistaking the sound of that voice, for no one had ever pronounced her name just the way he did, and now, as the gardener, had done again.
“Touch Me Not”
Instinctively, and with great emotion, Mary reached out her hand to touch Jesus, her beloved and now resurrected Lord. The Greek word “touch” used by Jesus when he said to Mary, “Touch me not,” has more than the simple meaning of making contact. It is a word used a number of times in the New Testament to denote making contact with another for the purpose of receiving a blessing. It is used a number of times in connection with Jesus’ miracles.
But the blessings which Jesus died to secure for Mary and for all who devoted themselves to him were not as yet available. He must first ascend to his Heavenly Father, and there appear in his presence to present the merit of his shed blood. Then the blessing of that new age which began with his ministry would flow out to his followers through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The time for this manifestation of divine favor would be Pentecost, so Mary had to wait.
Mary was instructed by Jesus to convey this information to his disciples. Thus, while the Master contacted his disciples a number of times, usually appearing in a different form, it was more in the nature of preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit. On the occasion of his last appearance he instructed them to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high, and that they were then to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.—Acts 1:7,8
So it was that the news of Jesus’ resurrection was to reach the world through the humble efforts of his devoted followers who would be willing at the cost of their lives to make known these glad tidings. This work was not accomplished in a short space of time, as news flashes encircle the globe today. It was to be the work, not of one generation of disciples, but of all the generations who have lived and witnessed from then until now; and the proclamation of the Gospel of the kingdom continues to be made. Millions have become aware of what happened nearly two thousand years ago, but only a few, a “little flock” in each generation, have responded to the call of the message and have devoted themselves to the cause of the Heavenly Father, which it represents.
The Divine Purpose
The divine purpose in the proclamation of the glad tidings of Jesus’ death and resurrection as the Redeemer and Savior is not to convert the world in the present age, but to reach those among mankind who would become Jesus’ footstep followers now, suffering and dying with him, that in the next age they might live and reign with him in his long-promised kingdom. To these Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”—Luke 12:32
Much is said in the Bible concerning the kingdom of God. Sometimes the references are to the blessings which will flow out to the subjects of that kingdom. At other times the rulership of the kingdom is involved. When Jesus said that the kingdom would be given to a “little flock” his reference was to those who would quality to live and reign with him in that kingdom.
In Isaiah 25:6-8 the kingdom is likened to a great mountain, and the promise is that “in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things”; that is, extend to them an abundance of life-giving blessings, for, as the promise states, he will “swallow up death in victory,” and wipe away tears from all faces. This prophecy and promise pertains to those who will become the subjects of the kingdom.
One of the blessings of the kingdom will be the righteous judgment of the people by Jesus and his associates, this judgment being based upon the enlightenment of the people, and therefore their ability to know and to do God’s will. In his sermon on Mars’ Hill, Paul said, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”—Acts 17:30,31
Notice how the blessings of the future work of judgment of the people are associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus, Paul declares, gives assurance that these future blessings will indeed become a reality. One reason for this assurance is that Jesus died a sacrificial death in order to restore the world of mankind to life. If his death had not been acceptable to God as a “ransom” for the people, then he would not have been raised from the dead. Besides, the fact that he was raised from the dead is an assurance that God is able to fulfill all his good promises to give health and life to the human race in his own due time, even to the raising of the dead.
How widespread and marvelous are the implications of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead! What a joy it is, even now, nearly two thousand years later, to be among those who are privileged to proclaim this good news far and wide, as we have and can make opportunities! The world in its commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus continues on with its pomp and ceremony, little realizing the important part this great event plays in the Creator’s grand design to save the world from sickness and death, and to fill the world with peace and joy everlasting.
Many today who commemorate the resurrection of Jesus do not believe that he was resurrected. On the other hand there are also many who are not sure that a man like Jesus ever lived. They are inclined to think that the stories concerning him in the Bible are merely folklore. But Jesus said it would be this way at the end of the age, when he returned. He raised the question as to whether or not there would be faith on the earth.
But thank God we do have faith, faith to believe that just as Jesus was raised from the dead so long ago, and that the work of the present age has gone steadily forward since, so there are other great events in the divine plan which are sure to come. One of these is the rising of the “Sun of Righteousness, with healing in his wings.” (Mal. 4:2) Already, as the “Day Star,” he has arisen in our hearts; and we rejoice in the blessings which will come to all mankind when he rises as that great light- and life-giving “sun of righteousness.” Let us continue faithfully to bear the good news of this great coming event to all who will hear, so that they too may rejoice with us in the everlasting love of our Heavenly Father.