The New Testament descri-bes several instances of Jesus appearing to his disciples from the third day after he was laid to rest in the grave. His disciples in their wildest dreams had neither expected their master’s crucifixion, nor the happenings after his death. Their crucified Lord and Master continued to be in communication with them, leaving them in utter shock, surprise and doubt. The women who were the first ones to reach the grave reported to the men, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put him”. None of them imagined that after such a terrible tragedy, something worse was awaiting them — the body being stolen.
The angel’s pronouncement from the grave, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee…” was totally incomprehensible to them. Having doubts about God and life after death is neither new nor strange. The conversation between Jesus and the “doubtful Thomas” ends with Jesus telling him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
