Day 72 "Resurrection Sunday: Proof Jesus Was Who He Claimed to Be"

It was only a short time ago that Jesus, the disciples' hope and expectations as the messiah to deliver the Jewish nation out from underneath the Roman rule and occupation, was alive and preaching about the coming kingdom of God. All of the disciples' hope and expectations rested on Jesus, and they had left everything behind, risked everything, to follow him. But now, all seemed lost. Their blessed Messiah, their Lord and Master, was now dead having been crucified at the hands of the Romans themselves. Where joy once thrived, despair and hopelessness now reigned.

Fear for their own lives was now the overriding concern.

What a surprise and shock to the disciples! Certainly, in their human and worldly mindsets, none of the disciples could have expected this outcome! But Jesus had given them foreknowledge of what was to come, but the disciples' worldly perspective, mostly concerned with their own well-being, could not ascertain or see what Jesus truly was saying:

" But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." John 8:23

"Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

John 18:36

So much for the disciples sharing with Jesus the new earthly kingdom that they believed was coming. Now, they would be lucky enough to escape with their own lives! But then everything changed. Word had arrived that Jesus' tomb was empty! Jesus was no longer in the tomb! Despair had moved to confusion and uncertainty. They had seen Jesus, himself, alive, was the report that the disciples had gotten from several of the woman who had gone to Jesus' tomb. How could this be? Had they not heard or witnessed the death of Christ? But they were told to go to Galilee, where Jesus would meet them personally. And it was there, in the presence of Jesus, that the guilt and confusion of the disciples disappeared in sweet release as they beheld Jesus for themselves. He's alive!

And as the disciple spent time with Jesus, they came to understand what Jesus kingdom was all about. His kingdom was not to be earthly, but of heaven. And the things that Jesus taught the disciples began to take a shape in their lives as they began to see the bigger picture about what life was really about: it was about Jesus coming to die for our sins as an atoning sacrifice setting us free from the penalty and condemnation of our sins. And he came to teach us about love and how to love others. The disciple could now, once again, place their complete trust in Jesus for the resurrection was their evidence and proof that Jesus was who he claimed he really was. There is indeed, life after death. It would prove to be the same basis for which the Apostle Paul would argue that Christ was who he claimed to be:

"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection from the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then to be found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not be raised either. And if Christ has not be raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. The those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Dispute the resurrection, if you can. Validate and prove that it never took place. If you can, then you have just disproved Christianity. It would no longer exist. But since no one has ever been able to do that, by faith we can rest in the belief that the resurrection proves who Jesus claim to be. And if Jesus is who he claimed to be, then he rose from the dead and is still alive today! Now, and forever more!

***************************************************************************

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," 1 Peter 1:3

He arose, just as he said he would. What does that mean for you? In his love, see you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)