Many convincing proofs!
By Helen Jesze, 8th April 2016
“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
1 Corinthians 15, 14 KJB
“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
Acts 1,3 NIV
“After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.”
1 Cor. 15, 6 NLT
There were strange tales abroad in the city of Jerusalem. You didn’t know what to believe. It was ghostly, it was creepy… People said there were sightings of men and women who had already died, that they had come back to life again! It was said they had visited and talked with people – it was as though they had never died! What’s more, they said it was because of Jesus, the carpenter-Teacher from Nazareth, that after his crucifixion he had come into Hades where they were – the realm of the dead – and had preached that he was the perfect sacrificial Lamb, fulfilling the Jewish Law and he was now the Way to come to God. All those who believed Jesus were resurrected back to physical life at his resurrection!
(Matt. 27, 5153)
The disciples of this said Jesus were in fear of their lives and stayed behind locked doors, dreading the tramp of soldiers’ feet and betrayal. Yet here too, there were strange tales. Mary Magdalene had come running, pounding on the door, saying that she thought it was the gardener but it really was Jesus she had seen in the Garden that morning!
The women who had taken spices and gone to the tomb to properly lay out Jesus’ body (there had not been time enough before the Passover) had come running back and said they had seen and talked with an angel who said he was alive, that the grave was empty and they must go, tell His disciples and Peter, He was going ahead of them to Galilee; there they would see Him, just as He had told them!
But the men thought, who could believe women anyway?! They always got so emotional about every little thing – just old wives’ tales! How could it be that Jesus was no longer dead? They had all seen him nailed to that cross, his life-blood pouring down… He, himself, had cried out: “It is finished” and his head dropped in death… They had lowered that body down from the cross and buried it – and now they say he’s alive!?
But just in case there was some truth to this, Peter and John, two of their own, ran and saw for themselves the empty tomb! But who could explain that the grave clothes were still lying there without a body inside them and the napkin which had been round his head lay in a different place by itself?!
There was whispering and telling of things which had never been heard of before, running from one hiding place to another, quick knocking on the door and telling the password to be let in, then amazed expressions and shaking of heads, tearstained faces filled with grief for it all seemed impossible to believe.
The news leaked out that the Jewish priests were in a panic, for the soldiers who had been on guard at the tomb had come running, telling the stone was rolled away and the body had disappeared! Hardened men terrified, stammering they had seen an angel sitting on the stone! The priests bribed them with money, telling them to say they had slept while Jesus’ disciples came and took his body away – but how could they have seen these things if they had been asleep?! And what Roman soldier would dare to sleep on his watch, for he would have been killed!
Then that very evening, after two of their number had run back from Emmaus telling the gathered disciples how Jesus had shown himself to them, He suddenly appeared, walking in through closed doors and saying,
“Peace be to you!… Why are you disturbed and troubled, and why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself!”
Luke 24: 38+39a The Amplified Bible
Did Jesus really come to life again?
Two weeks ago we celebrated Easter – remembering when our Saviour Jesus Christ died and rose again to save us from our sins. One of the verses above tells us that Jesus showed himself by many convincing proofs that he had come to life again. This occurred within a period of 40 days. Now we are in the forty days after Easter and it is good to think of what happened and what it might have meant to the disciples and Jesus’ followers, when he proved to them without a shadow of a doubt that he was actually alive again.
Nothing less would be enough, for out of a terrified, weak band of men and women, Jesus was going to produce a mighty, fearless group who would go out to change the world! Only the heart certainty that he was alive and living in them, plus the power of the Holy Spirit, would be their motivation, courage and ability to take this message to the world.
Through the years, many people have tried to disprove the fact of Jesus’ resurrection. One world religion teaches that Jesus was crucified, but his body was taken down from the cross before he actually died, and another body was buried in Jesus’ grave. But in these 40 days, Jesus gave absolute convincing proofs he was alive. Apart from the ones which are recorded, in John 20, 30 and 31 we read:
”There are also many other signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name (through Who He is).”
The Amplified Bible.
Did Jesus really live at all?
Further, some people even disbelieve that Jesus even lived at all, that he has no place in history, for they do not believe the Bible. Yet there are many accounts about Jesus by secular (non-religious) writers of Jesus’ time and shortly after. Can it be that millions the world over have been believing in a non-existent ‘person’? An abstract idea? Believing in a fairy tale?
If this is so, how strange that most of the calendars of the world should stem from before and after the time of His birth (B.C. and A.D.); millions of songs have been written and sung to this “Nothing”, more books written about him, more lives changed through his power, more people healed by his Name, more beer turned into furniture and food put on the table in the home of alcoholics he has delivered; countless cowards turned into giants of faith and drug addicts instantly set free from their habit; a myriad of martyrs given their lives for this One they passionately adore… than any other person. The list could go on – all this could only happen because Jesus truly is who he says he is, and because he is alive today!
Well, what about YOU ? Has this resurrected Jesus stepped into your life and given you, personally, many convincing proofs that he is alive? If this has never happened to you yet, and you would like it to, why not pray now:
Lord Jesus, I am not sure if you are really there, but I want to know! I want to know if you are real! Show yourself to me! I open my heart and mind to you right now! Thank you, Jesus! Amen.
But for all of us who do know Him, let’s pray together :
Lord Jesus, we lift you up today for there is no-one like you! You are the Lord of lords and the King of kings – the risen and glorified One in our life. Make yourself known to us in an even greater way, we pray, Lord.
Thank you for that resurrection life which is already in us since the New Birth. We know you are alive, for you live in us. Now live through us today that we might bring glory to your Name. We worship you, our Saviour! Amen.
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