They stabbed Him in the heart just to make sure. Blood and water came out indicating the pericardium had been pierced. There was no question. He was dead. Sunday He was alive. It was Him. “Thomas put your finger here.” This was no hoax, no charade, no con. As Peter wrote, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
Years later Peter was crucified, upside down per his request. He was no fool. He wasn’t about to suffer this horror for some made-up story. Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross. Bartholomew was skinned alive. No. No. This was not a hoax. No one allows such for a fable no matter how clever. Jesus was dead and then He was alive.
He said it. Jesus said it in front of Lazarus’ tomb. “I am the resurrection and the life.” Was He ever! Is He ever! So what about you? Would you like to live forever? I know that some of you don’t even want to live even for another day. But that is because you are here. This place can be a mess and if it isn’t now it will be. Everyone you love will die. So we are not talking about here. We are talking about a place where death and deterioration will be artifacts of a time past. So claim the promise. Accept the gift. We are not joking. It is not a hoax. It is the real deal. Jesus said, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 28, 2016
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