Capturing Cappadocia: Piecing Together the Resurrection

While I was searching the internet for a possible script to use to tell the Easter story to the kids at school, I came across a very disturbing website. The author was attempting to dissuade belief in the Resurrection of Jesus because each of the Gospels describe it differently. He even went so far as to suggest Christians act out the Gospels simultaneously to prove to themselves and everyone else that it is inconsistent. I forwarded the site on to CC, as we sometimes do, then we discuss them later. As he read it, it gave him a wonderful (God-inspired, I think) idea. Before we left for Cappadocia, he printed the 4 Gospel accounts of the resurrection to take along.

The first night, he had each of the girls (Sweet Cheeks and I were on a team) write out three statements about our last visit to Antalya over Christmas break. We then read them aloud. As you can imagine, they were all very different, as they were from different perspectives. Incidentally, Sweet Cheeks listed as one of her three that I had locked her out of the room (accidentally, I assure you!) and she was scared. Oh dear.

The next night, CC handed out the Gospel accounts, had us read each aloud, cut them by verses, then read them each chronologically verse-by-verse, taking turns. We then began to piece them all together and speculate why certain authors included certain details. I suggested that perhaps Matthew included the account of the chief priests' bribery of the soldiers and the false rumor they spread because it was written mainly to the Jews. CC suggested that perhaps why Mary Magdalene ran, confused and not understanding, was that she was certainly the youngest. When the women saw the stone moved, maybe they sent her on to inform the others. She then returned and had her own encounter with Christ. I thought CC's idea to do this was brilliant, as so many of his are.

 And we got them almost all pieced together, when Sweet Cheeks, after a big day of hiking, announced she was putting herself to bed. After all, she needs no convincing of what she already believes!

And when it comes right down to it, if someone wants to believe something, they will. And likewise, if they want to disbelieve, no amount of miracles, appearing, and signs will convince them.

I believe. Have a wonderful Resurrection Day!