His Resurrection Changes Everything!
Saturday, April 3, 2021
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RESURRECTION DAY - THE GREATEST DAY IN WORLD HISTORY
The first century Jewish historian, Josephus wrote the following about Jesus: "About this time there lived Yeshua, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man, for he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah."
Among the simple people of Israel and in the neighboring nations Jesus had an immense following because of the miraculous healings He brought to people and the instructions He gave them to trust God as child his Father and to love one another - even enemies. The purity of His life, and the authority of His words provoked jealousy among the political and ruling classes and He was eventually crucified.
Yeshua did not resist this death, because He knew, according to the prophet Isaiah and His own communication with God, His Father, that death on the Cross was His destiny. He knew He was the innocent person (perfect Lamb) whom God had sent to take the blame, the guilt, the sin and sins of every human. He is the scapegoat prefigured in the Levitical sacrifice. He also knew that He would not remain dead but would conquer death and rise from the dead within three days. "For You will not leave my soul in the grave, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." (Psalm 16.10)
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and [a]scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” (Mark 10.33-35)
On a bright spring morning three women arrived at the tomb where He was buried. (Mark 16.1-8) He was not there. There was only an empty tomb, even though a platoon of Roman solders had guarded His tomb from the moment He was placed in it.. An angel spoke to women, "He is not here! He is risen!" Then Jesus showed Himself to them- alive! After that He showed Himself to His leading followers and then to 500 hundred others.
There is no one in world history remotely like Yeshua. His birth, death and resurrection were all foretold by the prophets. He is the Messiah spoken of by David. (Psalm 89) He is the greater prophet spoken of by Moses. (Deut. 18.15) He is the future King of the earth, and today He rules in the lives of millions people who base their lives on His redemptive work, who live by His teachings and receive His life.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the greatest fact in world history, because it means that He has successfully taken upon Himself the guilt and sin of the world and opened up a heavenly, eternal destiny for every one who believes it and receives it.
The Risen Christ, Our Hope
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, ... For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ IS risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (1 Cor 15.13-23)
