The Pattern of Easter

How did the disciples respond to Jesus' resurrection?  They did not accept the truth easily.  In fact their response and experience fits into the fourfold pattern of:  Denial; Hearing; Encounter; and Confessing & Proclaiming.

(1)    Denial– at first every one of them denied that Jesus could possibly be risen.
(2)    Hearing (The Message was Proclaimed to them) – before they saw Jesus every one of His followers heard the message that He was risen; from angels or others who had already seen Him.  But they still refused to believe.
(3)    Encounter with Jesus – only after hearing that Christ is Risen did they get to see Him.  This is when the disciples finally believed Jesus was alive.
(4)    Confessing & Proclaiming – they confessed their faith in Jesus; and then began proclaiming, telling others that Jesus is risen.

Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!