Second, the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves the deity of our Lord. When He lived upon earth Jesus claimed to be equal to God and that God, this same God, would raise Him from the dead three days after His execution by the Roman authorities. If He was wrong in this, His claim was either the raving of a deranged man or else blasphemy. If he was right, the resurrection would be God’s way of substantiating the claim.

Second, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is good news because it came after an apparent defeat. A victory is always good news. But news of victory after news that a battle has apparently been lost is even better.

Next there is the evidence of the empty tomb, coupled with the evidence of the moved stone and the undisturbed graveclothes. How are we to account for these things? Some have imagined that either Joseph of Arimathea or the Roman or Jewish authorities moved the body. But not only was there no reason for this to have been done—it would have involved violating the officially sealed tomb—it is also inconceivable that the true circumstances would not have been revealed later after the disciples had appeared in Jerusalem to proclaim their belief in Christ’s resurrection.

Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ the best news the world has ever heard? First, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is good news because it is true.

Now there is a great deal more to the story of Cleopas and Mary because of their meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ. For each of these three openings had an important consequence in their lives. And these three results should also occur for us when our Bibles, eyes, and minds are opened.

When Jesus began to open the Scriptures to Cleopas and Mary, He initiated the first of three openings that are mentioned in this chapter. He opened the Scriptures; He opened their eyes; and He opened their understanding. These are so significant that they would make an outline for a study all by themselves.

What is it that accounts for a belief in the resurrection on the part of Christ’s disciples? The answer is nothing but the resurrection itself! If we cannot account for the belief of the disciples in that way, we are faced with one of the greatest enigmas in world history.