Stephan Ackermann: Doubts about resurrection already in the Bible

According to the Trier Bishop Stephan Ackermann, Christians do not have to have a guilty conscience if they find it difficult with the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. « We do not need to be ashamed if we have doubts, » said Ackermann, according to the speech in his Easter sermon in the Trier Cathedral. « It is crucial that we do not let Jesus and the community he donated among his disciples, the church. »

The bishop said that the belief in the resurrection was « almost unavoidable » among the disciples at the time. Also with Maria Magdalena – according to the Bible, a witness of crucifixion and burial of Jesus – « there was no trace of belief in Easter, » said Ackermann. She thought that the body had been taken away.

« The advanced one can see himself from the disciples. He shows them his liveliness. And that brings them – not without a doubt – to be convinced that he rose from the dead, » said the bishop. The women and the apostles gave Jesus the opportunity to show them his liveliness. They would not have left him, even if they thought he was dead and the “Reich God” project was over.

Then as now, Jesus often show his liveliness in an unspectacular way: « We do not expect heroic faith acts, but the simple loyalty that does not give Jesus and gives him the chance to surprise us with his liveliness, » said Ackermann.