EASTER: The day after – two options.

I remember growing up as a “Army Brat” and constantly finding myself frustrated because I could not tell anyone what rank my father was. In his closet he had three uniforms all with different ranks even though I never saw him in a uniform. Also, I had been drilled by my mother that when asked I was to only say, “My daddy works for the government”. I was left with two options: Either my father was a liar or I did not understand the whole picture. When I discovered, after he retired, he was actually a spy in the CIA I saw “part of” the whole picture, not all of it…otherwise he would have to kill me! ☺

Can you imagine the emotional roller coaster the disciples had been on in a three day span? Crushed on Friday as they witnessed Jesus’s arrest, fleeing in fear, and seeing or knowing He was crucified! Then the confusion, fear and joy when confronted with an empty tomb, women’s testimonies, and a Risen Christ!

We 2,000 years later are left with only two options. Paul confronted this reality as he wrote the Church in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 

Either, there was no body in the tomb, and they met a Risen Christ, or they stole the body and lied about it. I want to take some time to digest this because most of the world, especially the folks that claim we are ignorant and superstitious, and they are so intelligent, claim the disciples lied. Tomorrow I will share what the outcome of that lie would be if it was the truth. Today I would just encourage you to question what you believe about Jesus. 

The “So What”: How much is Jesus in your life? Is He just an added ingredient, that you think about once in a while, once a week & special occasions; or when you’re in trouble? Do you talk to Him? When you do, is He far away and a stranger, or is your conversation intimate and with a friend? Finish this thought: 

Without Jesus my life would be -