Last Sunday we discussed the crucifixion of Christ and asked the question, “Were You There?” Of course, the obvious answer is “no” you were not there personally but, you were there representatively. But, we did discuss the number of people that were actually there in person observing the death of Christ on the cross.
Now, thinking about all that happened with the crucifixion of Christ, why is it that so many today want to completely deny that Christ even existed? So many deny that He actually lived here as one of us. They insist that Jesus is just a myth, just a made-up story to try to make it look like the Bible is not true. If that is the case then what about all the secular historians of the first century that record some of the events in which “Christ” or “Christos” was involved? Both Jewish and Roman historians mention some of the events of the life of Christ and especially His crucifixion. Remember, this happened in Jerusalem of Palestine and yet, even some in the city of Rome wrote about this great event. Everyone knew about the trials and crucifixion of Christ, that it was Pilate that allowed it to happen at the insistence of the Jews. Now, what about the resurrection of Christ? Again, several historians wrote concerning this even though most, if not all, did not believe it actually happened. But, the interesting thing is, while no one, not one single person ever denied that empty tomb, many did offer excuses for how it happened to be empty. There were three basic explanations given for that empty tomb. One was that Jesus never really died on the cross, He just passed out, was buried, came to three days later and slipped out of the tomb. Question - how did a man who passed out from pain and blood loss come to and have the strength to move a 1000 lb. stone and overcome Roman soldier guards? The second theory is that the Jews came and stole the body for fear the apostles would come and steal it to claim He rose from the dead. If that were the case, when Peter preached His resurrection on Pentecost, those Jews would have drug that nasty, dead body and thrown it down in front of all those people and said here is your resurrected Lord! The third theory is that the apostles did take His body to claim He rose from the dead. But, think about this, all of the apostles but John died for the cause of Christ. Would all of those men have actually stood up and died for something they knew was a lie? Brethren, Christ’s resurrection is everything. Without the resurrection of Jesus we have no hope of our own resurrection. It is central to Christianity. Think about what the apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:14, 19, 57 where he said, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, and your faith also is vain; If we have hope in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
Now, thinking about all that happened with the crucifixion of Christ, why is it that so many today want to completely deny that Christ even existed? So many deny that He actually lived here as one of us. They insist that Jesus is just a myth, just a made-up story to try to make it look like the Bible is not true. If that is the case then what about all the secular historians of the first century that record some of the events in which “Christ” or “Christos” was involved? Both Jewish and Roman historians mention some of the events of the life of Christ and especially His crucifixion. Remember, this happened in Jerusalem of Palestine and yet, even some in the city of Rome wrote about this great event. Everyone knew about the trials and crucifixion of Christ, that it was Pilate that allowed it to happen at the insistence of the Jews. Now, what about the resurrection of Christ? Again, several historians wrote concerning this even though most, if not all, did not believe it actually happened. But, the interesting thing is, while no one, not one single person ever denied that empty tomb, many did offer excuses for how it happened to be empty. There were three basic explanations given for that empty tomb. One was that Jesus never really died on the cross, He just passed out, was buried, came to three days later and slipped out of the tomb. Question - how did a man who passed out from pain and blood loss come to and have the strength to move a 1000 lb. stone and overcome Roman soldier guards? The second theory is that the Jews came and stole the body for fear the apostles would come and steal it to claim He rose from the dead. If that were the case, when Peter preached His resurrection on Pentecost, those Jews would have drug that nasty, dead body and thrown it down in front of all those people and said here is your resurrected Lord! The third theory is that the apostles did take His body to claim He rose from the dead. But, think about this, all of the apostles but John died for the cause of Christ. Would all of those men have actually stood up and died for something they knew was a lie? Brethren, Christ’s resurrection is everything. Without the resurrection of Jesus we have no hope of our own resurrection. It is central to Christianity. Think about what the apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:14, 19, 57 where he said, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, and your faith also is vain; If we have hope in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
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