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This is Easter Sunday. This is the annual celebration of Jesus rising from the grave alive. No one has ever found his bones.
Backing up to Friday before Sunday, the Roman Centurion in charge of the Crucifixion told the soldiers to break the legs of the two criminals on each side of Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, the saw that he was already dead. To prove it, they pierced his side instead fulfilling Old Testament prophecy none of his bones would be broken. The amount of fluid that exited his body was proof he was already dead.
Joseph of Arimathea, a Jewish Pharisee, had been given permission by Pilate to bury Jesus' body in one of his family's tombs. His body was taken to the tomb, prepared with burial ointments and a shroud of linen was placed over his body.
A Roman Praetorian Guard was set at the tomb and it was sealed with a large stone that could only be rolled by multiple men to close the entrance. Steel spikes were driven into the stone and ropes attached with Roman seals of wax and stamp to authenticate the closure.
On Sunday morning at daybreak, the ropes burst and the stone rolled away. The Praetorian Guard fled as they knew if caught, they would be killed by Pilate. Jesus walked out of the tomb ... ALIVE! As a matter of fact, he was seen by over 500 witnesses for 40 days while he continued to heal people, talk to them, eat with them and finally, ascend into heaven at the eyewitness of his 11 Disciples. These witnesses knew if they talked about Jesus, they may be jailed and killed by the Romans and/or Jewish leadership.
Seeing Jesus was a Game Changer for all witnesses. It meant they would be able to live again as Jesus was living proof. Everything he told them was authenticated as Truth by His resurrection. And he said to Thomas, one of his disciples who did not believe the other disciples account of him being alive saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." And then Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Are you willing to believe? The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", and Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." But this is the Good News! The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
Jesus wants to give you life and give it abundantly. He will provide you with the peace that surpasses all understanding and He will guard your heart and mind Himself. He is the Prince of Peace. Will let Him in your life? Will you step off the throne of control and allow Him to get on it? I promise you this will change your life forever. You will be empowered, emboldened and impassioned! Please consider making Jesus the Lord of your life.
