Have you ever heard an excuse that made you roll your eyes? This is an actual excuse from a politician who was accused of smoking crack cocaine: “Yes I have smoked crack cocaine,” He told reporters. “But no, do I, am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors!”
1 Corinthians 15:13–19… “if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised…and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins...If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
My greatest beef is those who say Jesus was a good man…even a great man, but was not Who He claimed to be – God in the flesh. Have the courage to take a stand. Stop coming up with ridicules explanations about His empty tomb! I.E. - *Jesus did not really die, He merely swooned! Oh yes, those ignorant Romans did not know how to tell if someone was dead! *His disciples stole the body! Oh yes, these fishermen were fierce warriors, Peter was so good he took a swipe at one and caught only an ear! The Roman guards were clearly out classed in battle against these fishermen! AND all those that saw Christ risen either lied of had illusions – even the over 500 at one time!
All were martyred in horrible ways! Maybe a few would die for a lie they knew was a lie, but all?
Jesus made it clear what would happen to Him. Others have died for what they believe, but He stated that He would rise from the dead. The empty tomb validates Who He was.
Even non-Christian writers Josephus (AD 37-100), Suetonius (AD 70-160) and Pliny the Younger (AD 61 or 62-113) stated that this is what Christians were dying for.
Interesting isn’t it, the empty tomb is not denied, it is explained away!
Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Also MK 8, Lk 9, Jn 2.
The So What:
I understand it requires faith, but you practice faith every day. You believe (faith) maps when traveling, you order food that you believe (faith) is safe to eat, you follow (faith) doctor’s orders and medicine (faith) even though you do not know for sure the Dr is right, or the medicine will work. I could go on. Life is faith, it only becomes sight after we have lived it. If you will just be humble enough to tell God you believe He is there and you will follow Him, He will prove Himself to you.
