Fatal torment: Jesus really did die.
Empty tomb: His tomb was and is still - empty!
Today I will offer two more:
Appearances: Jesus appeared to dozens of people after his resurrection. In fact, on one occasion he appeared to 500 individuals. In 1 Corinthians 15:6 the apostle Paul states concerning the resurrected Jesus that "he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living..." This is significant for two reasons. First, if the experiences of the eye witnesses to the resurrected Jesus could be attributed to hallucinations, isn't it striking that 500 people all had the same hallucination at the same time? Also, Paul makes it quite clear that some of these eye witnesses were still living at the time he wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians. What Paul was saying to his readers was this, "If you don't believe me, contact one of these witnesses." You see, it is one thing for me to make an incredible claim about someone who lived so long in the past that any eye witnesses to his life are long gone. It is quite another to make the claim while eye witnesses still live who could affirm or discredit my claim. The gospel record is quite clear. Jesus lives and his many appearances confirm that claim.
Transformed lives: One of the most arresting aspects of the resurrection account is the transformed lives of the disciples. Peter for example, went from denying that he even knew Jesus (and this denial to a little servant girl) to proclaiming Jesus to a crowd of thousands in Jerusalem just a few weeks later. The only explanation that I can find for this abrupt and radical turnaround is the fact that Peter met the risen Jesus. Therefore, he knew that Jesus was indeed alive and ALL that Jesus taught concerning who he was and why he came was true. And this dramatically transformed his life!
Close to 2000 years have come and gone since Jesus rose from the dead. But he is still in the business of transforming lives. I know. He transformed mine! He wants to do the same for you! Come to him. Confess your sin and rebellion against God. Believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. Commit your life to Christ. And he will begin his work of transformation. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Thanks for stopping by .... and may you be blessed this Easter season!
pj
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