RESURRECTION

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Hi All

“The only certainty in life is death and taxes”. The origin of this statement is uncertain. One of the most popular originators is Benjamin Franklin. The author is irrelevant. Taxes may come and go. But death is a certainty for all of us until Jesus returns.

Death for nearly everyone is an inevitable certainty which we prefer to put so far behind us on the back burner, it catches us by surprise. It shouldn’t, but it does. How many of us would enjoy an evening seated together discussing death in general and our own, in particular?

The opposite of dying is the resurrection. Life after death! Never dying is so remote that we only know 2 names of men who reportedly didn’t die. They are Enoch and Elijah. This means that the resurrection from the dead should be at the top of our favourite topics. Sadly, it’s not even discussed. But in the day of the early church, it was the hottest topic known. Men and women flocked into God’s Kingdom because they had heard that Jesus gives everlasting life. It’s still true. But it doesn’t even raise a yawn today. The reason is because it seems that no one believes it!

It’s one of those “things” in Christianity which is difficult to prove. “Show me the evidence” we hear on every side. But we do have the evidence; irrefutable evidence, witnessed by so many people. The event is not even thought of as untrue. I’m referring to the death and resurrection of Lazarus.

We know that Lazarus was dead for four days. We also know that he was seen after his resurrection. So much so, the Jewish elders wanted to kill him again. ⁹ When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival, they flocked to see Him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, John 12:9-10 NLT

No matter how anti-Christian someone might be, here is irrefutable evidence that Lazarus had died and Jesus resurrected him. No person in his or her right mind can imagine how the elders would want to kill someone who was already dead! Of course people could say that it’s a fable. Why would that be? If I wrote a story today saying that Fred Bloggs had died and had been resurrected, they’d say I was mad. But the truth of the resurrection was so powerful that it turned the then known world on its head in a matter of a couple of hundred years.

I’m told that there is more evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ than there is evidence that Julius Caesar invaded the UK. The invasion of UK by Julius Caesar makes no demands on you or me personally. So What? The fact is people don’t want to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. It disturbs their preferred theology. It makes demands on them they are not willing to acknowledge. It’s been like that since the days of the early church. So what else is new?

Today’s meditation looks at the resurrection of Lazarus. Do you believe it? The choice is entirely yours.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Resurrection

One of our biggest problems is the raising of the dead. “I’m sorry it’s not possible”, the unbeliever said! “I really can’t accept it. The cemetery is closed. The only way to enter is when life has been disposed. The body simply lies there and soon it’s very rotten. And in a very few short years, that person is forgotten. It’s absolutely certain. It’s always been that way. So do not try and tell me it will come to life one day! Perhaps all that’s remaining is just a bone or two; And brother it is certain; it will happen unto you. Please give me the evidence, that this is not the case. Take me there and show me, the time, the date and place, Where this has ever happened. Describe where it was seen. Bring to me the witnesses. Bring “Facts” not “might have been” My friend it isn’t difficult. Come back with me in time. Before the Lord was crucified, He gave us all His sign. A friend of His called Lazarus, we know had passed away. Then they prepared his body in that special Jewish way. They wrapped him up in linen as tight as it could be. It looked just like a mummy from ancient history. The wrappings were intended to keep all things in place. They also put a napkin to cover up his face. The body was so tightly wrapped, it couldn't even scratch. So if it came to life again, how would it ever snatch, A lung full of the oxygen it needed to escape? It couldn't ever stand or rise or even change its shape. The body was immoveable; it couldn’t even wheeze. In fact it was impossible for it to even sneeze. They placed it in a chamber behind a great big stone. Effectively that chamber was an exclusion zone. None could ever enter; and no one could get out. A dead man couldn’t run away; that’s far beyond a doubt! Four days the body lay there. The smell proved he was dead. Then Jesus came upon the scene. He wept and then He said. “Lazarus come forth!” and in an instant they all saw, His body ‘teleported’ and come out of the door. No one touched or carried him. At Jesus’ command, A dead man was brought back to life; his corpse once more could stand. There a host of witnesses; the Pharisees were scared. Who was this man who raised the dead? They hardly even dared, To think He was the “Maker”, whom dead men must obey. When He said “Lazarus come forth” no power could tell it “nay!” This was a miracle of God, to prove to us that He, Could speak and dead men will arise and come forth instantly. You don’t have to believe it. The choice is up to you. But resurrection is a fact; don’t tell me it’s not true! Jim Strickland  Written Wednesday 28th March 2012