He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:6)
The most verifiable fact in human history is the empty tomb of Christ. Only an ignorant fool can look upon the evidence and deny the reality. Many world religions are built around a founder that is dead and buried in some grave. Al-Masjid al-Nabawī, the Mosque of the Prophet, in Medina, holds the remains of Islam’s founder, Mohammad. Buddha died and was cremated and his remains divided up amongst several Buddhist temples. Adherents of these religions can point to the remains of their founders and say, “he is there” or “there he lies.” These places have become holy shrines were the faithful worship. But Christians can only point to an empty tomb, for our Savior is risen indeed!
Cynics have tried in vain to debunk the claim. Some claim that Jesus really did not die, but that He “swooned” because of the physical abuse and blood loss, but in the coolness of the tomb He revived and came out of the grave. How ridiculous! Even if it were true that He did not really die, how could He have moved the stone weighing several thousand pounds and then had enough strength to overcome the 16 Roman soldiers guarding the tomb? And how could the Roman execution squad have mistaken His “swoon” as death? These men were expert in executing slow and painful deaths – they knew when a victim died!
Then there are those who claim the disciples stole Jesus’ body and faked His resurrection. Yes! These cowards that abandoned Jesus at the time of His arrest and then went and hid for fear of their lives! Yes these “tough guys” had the courage to go up against 16 trained Roman soldiers, over power them and rob the grave. That is highly doubtful! But that was what the soldiers were paid to say (Matthew 28:13).
If Jesus had not risen from the grave, all the religious leaders would need to have done is produce the body. They could have taken His body and paraded it around all over Jerusalem to once and for all silence the claim that he had risen.
Jesus was witnessed alive not only by His disciples, but by over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). It is unlikely, actually it is next to impossible, for someone to be willing to die for a hoax, but these early Christians were ready to deny their old religious beliefs to follow the resurrected Christ, and were willing to give their lives for that belief.
Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed! He is alive and He offers life eternal to anyone who will believe. He is the only way, the only truth and the only life. And no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). To have this eternal life, all one needs do is repent, trust and believe: (John 1:12; 3:16-18, 36; 5:24; 6:40,47; Romans 10:9-10) Happy Resurrection Day!
Ernie's Musings 