THE FULL AFFIRMATION OF GOD'S LOVE

The resurrection of Jesus is a hidden event. Jesus didn't rise from the dead to prove to those who had crucified Him that they had made a mistake, or confound His opponents. Nor did He rise to impress the rulers of His time or to force anyone to believe. Jesus' resurrection was the full affirmation of His Father's love.

Therefore, He only showed Himself to those who knew about this love. He made Himself known as the risen Lord, only to a handful of His close friends. There is probably no event in human history that has had such importance, while remaining, at the same time, so unspectacular. The world didn't notice it; only those few to whom Jesus had chosen to show Himself, and whom He wanted to send out to announce God's love to the world just as He had done.

-- Henri Nouwen in "Our Greatest Gift: A Meditation on Dying and Caring," Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 4


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