With some intense points of views
pressing home as I rolled out of bed this morning and with a single thought
eventually silencing the other contenders let me endeavour to unpack that
particular impression and do the subject justice as it is crucial for the
Christians existence.
The topic; the resurrection of the
Lord Jesus Christ, is it fact or fiction?
There is the cry from so many
opinionated sources throughout the world that Christ’s resurrection is in fact
a fairly tale; but for the Christian without the resurrection as an actual fact
could only ever imply one thing that our faith is futile. Without Christ’s
resurrection as an actual datum we would be no different to any other religious
niceties that can only ever tickle ones conscience as many find whatever suits
them to falsely hedge their bets for the life to come. Some believe that they
will be reincarnated, how they arrive at that conclusion can only proved that
Satan’s trickery is at play. Has there even been any proof to their claims? Has
a cow ever spoken to a grandson claiming to be their grandfather? Whilst others
worship carved images which neither move nor speak. Superstition personified!
So what of the Christian, what makes our belief any different from others?
We will eventually arrive at a
marvellous conclusion…
We are not called to apply faith to
any novel idea but rather asked to believe God at his Word, however in His
mercy He has gone to great lengths to prove that what we cling to is genuine.
How so? The bible is filled with irrefutable proof, like prophecy (a man
foretelling the future and penning actual events still to happen). At large the
world is fascinated by prophecies from Nostradamus and yet they shun the
bible’s truth which records zero errors pertaining to its foretelling of the
future.
The gainsayer is often the man who has
done zip study of the Bible, fascinating! Comments like, “I’ve read the bible”
after reading a line or two, it is obvious that Satan has twisted their minds
and they love darkness rather than light. Unless those in question cry out for
help, sadly they will remain in darkness for all eternity. However while a
person has breath there is still hope, but their sinful state must be
recognized if they are to have any hope of salvation. For those closest to us
who apply such reasoning to their lives we must continue to shine Christs light
out into the darkness of this world. Be zealous for the truth and be bold with
it. Our God is gracious and we must never forget where we once were in consideration
of our understanding. But let us never confuse truth with tolerance for error.
Compromise is not one of God’s attributes, its how Satan deceives.
The brilliance of God on display
through the apparent mundane existence of the world’s population is often missed
by the masses. The simple lessons in life often highlight the most marvellous complexities
of spiritual truth if only we would pay attention to it. But the resurrection
of Jesus Christ is not open to any such revelation, it is factual and binding.
Even the unbeliever in a court of law would be unable to dispute that fact.
The man Jesus had died; they buried
him in a tomb and covered its entrance with a large rock posting sentinels to
guard it. Who in their right mind would ever protect a grave? That alone should
get your attention as it assuredly highlights value. Those who insisted that
Christ be crucified had paid off men to see their plan come to fruition. But
there was one more hurdle the gainsayer had to overcome, the claim from Christs
believers that he would be raise from the dead and they couldn’t have that so
they took great precaution to keep that from happening, but to no avail! Who
can stop Gods intentions? HIS WILL ALWAYS COME TO PASS! Just because a man or
an angel should endeavour to thwart God’s plan does not mean that they shall be
successful, unless that was always part of God’s overarching plan to unravel a
deeper truth highlighting His brilliance.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the
ultimate manifestation of the cleverness of God; even creation as majestic as
it must have been in my humble opinion does not compare to the mastermind
behind Christ and his gospel. – Satan believed he had defeated God but was
outsmarted by him, Amen and Amen! The Apostle Paul unravels this hidden truth
like this; “Yet among the mature
we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers
of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God,
which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age
understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory.” (1Corinthians 2:6-8) – And then to think of what
God has in store for His faithful is too much for my puny brain; “But, as it is
written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man
imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him". (1Corinthians
2:9) – Wow what a hope we have in our great Saviour…
On the third day after the death of
Jesus and just as it was predicted, here is one of the recorded accounts of two
eye-witnesses and the unfolding of this event; “Now after the Sabbath,
toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of
the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on
it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards
trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women,
"Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is
not here, for he has risen,
as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his
disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you
to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." So they
departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his
disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!"
And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said
to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my
brothers to go to Galilee, and
there they will see me."” (Matthew 28:1-10)
Imagine the excitement; the experience must have been
so exhilaration for both women. Not only was the teaching of the Lord Jesus
unfolding before their eyes, they were part of it and had their quota to play.
It is the same for every born again believer, we all have our portion to accomplish
in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. And just like they received mixed
reactions to the “Good News” we shall experience similar reactions, therefore let
us not be put off by such trivia. Be bold and share the gospel, it may just
change a life.
These
women were filled with fear and great joy, and ran to tell the disciples the
good news. It’s their reaction that I wish to highlight; “Now
when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been
with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they
would not believe it.” (Mark 16:9-11) – Because some had not
personally witnessed the Lord Jesus resurrection, they struggle to believe it.
This however did not change the truth as it had already happen.
As
this truth was now already in play, the enemy was also plotting their deceit; “While
they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the
chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the
elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and
said, "Tell people,
'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' And
if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of
trouble." So they
took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”
(Matthew 28:11-15)
Sadly
there was even doubt within the Christian camp but not for long; “As they were
talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" But they were startled and
frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch
me, and see. For a spirit
does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And
when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.” (Luke 24:36-40) – And just like the Lord Jesus had
raise Lazarus from the dead, God the Father had now raised Him from the dead. It
was not a spirit whom the disciples now witnessed but Jesus in body.
Mission
accomplished, the Lord Jesus had now completed his stint as a man and re-opened
the bridge that Satan thru Eve in the Garden had shut due to his deception and
her sin.
There
were now eye witnesses of his resurrection…
Imagine
a man charged of murder placed on trial. His defence attorney has a
responsibility to do exactly that, defend him. But as soon as there are eye
witnesses that come forward stating under oath that they witnessed him
murdering the deceased his chances of acquittal rapidly diminishes.
We
have a recorded account of those who actually saw the Lord Jesus after his
death; in fact the evidence is so compelling that in court of law it would be
impossible to deny the truth of his resurrection. He was seen by many
witnesses; “He
presented himself alive to them after his suffering by
many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom
of God.” (Act 1:3) -
How many people actually saw him alive and well after his burial? The figure is
staggering, both the woman at the grave and at least all of the disciples save
Judas his betrayer could all under oath swear that they had seen him in the
flesh after his burial. They had all witnessed him alive and well.
So once again I pose the question is the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ fact or fiction? The answer is obvious!
This is why I can also echo Paul’s sentiments; “For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to
everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16) –
The door has now been opened for the truth saving power of the gospel to reach
men and woman throughout the globe, for all those who believe in His
resurrection.
As for the Christian we serve a God who has it in
His power to save all those who come to this realisation, praise the name of
Jesus now and forever more, Amen!
Signing off, or let me rather more aptly say,
singing off
Tyrone
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