Peter’s position reflected the generally held position of the followers of Jesus. As far as they were concerned, He was dead and it was over. He had been crucified as a false messiah by the leaders of His own people, and as a rebel challenger to Rome’s power. Now, those that were closest to Jesus were in fear for their own lives, hiding behind locked doors, knowing that the execution of previous messianic claimants was followed by the gathering up of his followers by the Roman authorities and their subsequent execution as well.
The disciples thought that the report of the women was pure nonsense, and Peter was bewildered and unable to come up with a suitable explanation for what he saw at the empty tomb. They were not the only skeptics. Further evidence that a resurrection was the last thing on the minds of those closest to Jesus can be found in the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. “They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus Himself approached and began to accompany them (but their eyes were kept from recognizing Him)” Luke 24:14-16). Even a personal appearance by Jesus was not able to undo the fact that these people knew that dead people stayed dead. Their speech betrayed their mindset, as they, in speaking about Jesus and His crucifixion, said “we had hoped that He was the one Who was going to redeem Israel” (24:21a). This redemption, for them, would have meant the overthrow of Rome and their being driven from the land with the establishment of the kingdom of God, thus signifying the end of God’s cursing and Israel’s long exile from God’s promise to them of land and self-rule and the respect and admiration of all nations.
They “had hoped” that He was the One Who was going to accomplish this, but with His death, that hope ceased to exist. Again, they knew that dead men do not lead messianic movements. The death of the leader of a messianic movement meant the end of the messianic movement. They went on to say, that “some women of our group amazed us” (24:22a), relating the tale of the women that had been to the tomb and returned to His disciples to inform them of Jesus’ Resurrection. Undoubtedly, this recounting of the story, to Jesus, included the fact that such talk was accepted as “pure nonsense,” thus provoking Jesus’ response of “You foolish people---how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (24:25)
Eventually, after Jesus provides a thorough explanation of the Scriptures concerning Himself, they finally recognize Him. This was in conjunction with His breaking of bread, which should be a signal for us that Jesus’ table fellowship practices were a significant and telling part of His ministry. With this recognition, “they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together” (24:33). In the meantime, something had happened. After Peter’s experience at the empty tomb, apparently Peter had an encounter with the risen Jesus. These Emmaus road disciples heard the eleven and the others saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!” (24:34)
With Peter’s testimony, they finally believed that the report of the woman had been something more than pure nonsense. Or did they? “While they were saying these things, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’.” (24:36) Did they welcome Him into their presence as the resurrected King of Israel? No, “they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost” (24:37). At this point, they still had not come to terms with the idea that somebody could truly be bodily raised from the dead. It would take a further showing of His hands and feet to convince them. He would speak of his flesh and bones, in contrast to what they would expect of a ghost. Jesus would even have to eat a piece of broiled fish before they truly believed that He was risen.
Eventually though, they would come to believe, and believe so firmly, that a world was turned upside down, forever changed, and forever changing through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. What changed their mind? Clearly, it was Jesus, risen from the dead, and appearing before their very eyes. Their belief was made firm when what had been promised by the Father had been sent (24:49a), and they had “been clothed with power from on high” (24:49b). Without this, which must seemingly be understood as the Spirit’s gift of faith, the idea of the Resurrection of Jesus would have remained nothing more than pure nonsense. In reality, such a thing is pure nonsense. The Apostle Paul would call it foolishness. Yet by its very proclamation, with the power of the Spirit inherent in the very words of the Gospel (Romans 1:16), hearts and lives are brought into submission and transformed; and the kingdom of God, with its purposes and plans, is extended. Let us boldly proclaim, this day and every day, the foolish nonsense of the resurrected Lord and Savior, putting His power to work, through us, in this world.
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