The story of the resurrection has been told by many different people in many different ways—and none of the versions are eyewitness accounts. But each has its own touches of beauty and spiritual power. Here, a contributing editor to the Journal retells the beloved story in her own words. We've also included a few examples of works of art that convey the deep reverence Christians have felt for these events.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE of the resurrection narrative was in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians about 20-25 years after the great event. The four Gospels also record the resurrection. For me, the story begins on the evening of what many call Good Friday, at a point when Jesus has been on the cross for many hours and has given up "the ghost," as the Bible puts it.
When Jesus' follower Joseph of Arimathea goes to the Roman governor Pilate and asks to care for the body of Jesus, he has to hurry, because the Sabbath is about to begin when no work can be done. See Matt. chaps. 27,28; Mark, chaps. 15, 16; Luke, chaps. 23, 24; and John, chaps. 19,20.
