An Experience of Faith
It’s interesting to note that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to those who believed in Him. If we were stage-managing matters, it would be handled differently. Plenty of witnesses to the actual resurrection, followed by a visit to Pilate and his wife, then on to the Sanhedrin. A victory procession, this time on a magnificent horse, not a donkey. His sheer living presence would force anyone to accept Jesus as Son of God. It would have saved an awful lot of trouble in ink and blood.
Second Sunday of Easter
Reasonable, but not faithful. Just like His birth, God passed by all the centres of power of the time. He appeared to no one except those who were disposed to believe. His followers may have lost hope in Jesus after He died, but they never lost their love for Him or faith in Him. It was this that gave the discerning eye to recognise Him, when others could not. Seeing the risen Jesus was not an experience of empirical data; it was an experience of faith.
A lesson that is as true for today. To those who don’t believe no evidence is enough, to the believer no evidence is needed.