The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!

Those words in the heading have been the traditional Resurrection Day greeting for disciples of Jesus, for many, many years. Yet a report, published last week, claimed that a majority of those in the UK, who would refer to themselves as "Christians", do not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ (Messiah).

The New Testament writers have absolutely no doubt that the resurrection took place - and that it was, indeed, a physical resurrection! I devote a full chapter to the subject in my second book, Foundations of the Faith, not least because it is a foundational belief. By the way, do remember that all three of my books (see above) are available as both paperbacks and e-books, and that ALL royalties are now sent directly to Release International, supporting the persecuted church - like those in Sri Lanka who have suffered so terribly today.

What follows is based on that particular chapter in Foundations - and may even encourage you to purchase, review, and recommend! 

The basis some have for denying that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus took place, is the claim that He didn't really die on the cross! That is similar to saying that someone sentenced to death by lethal injection; gas chamber; electric chair; hanging; beheading; or any other means; managed to survive the experience! You see, the whole point of the death penalty being executed is that the person so condemned dies! It doesn't require the mind of Sherlock Holmes to work that out!! We must also remember that the deed was done by experienced professionals, who were even commanded to double-check, when Joseph of Arimathea requested the body that it might be entombed!

However, one common rebuttal of the resurrection goes like this. Jesus had, somehow, fooled everyone. He was wrapped up in the grave-clothes, and laid in the tomb, and the great stone rolled across the entrance to the tomb, He revived and, without any assistance managed, from the inside, and in His physically weakened state, to escape from the grave-clothes in such a way as to leave them looking undisturbed; roll the stone disc – probably some five feet (one hundred and fifty centimetres) in diameter, and six inches (fifteen centimetres) thick – up the slight incline that kept it in place; get past the guards who were on duty; find some suitable clothing; and appear to His disciples. Hello!!!

Or what about this one. The man who died on the cross wasn't really Jesus! One of the disciples took His place so that He could appear as if He had risen from the dead (the usual Islamic explanation)!  This requires a number of factors to come together.  Jesus was not some non-entity.  He was well known to the authorities.  Accordingly, His ‘substitute’ would have had to be identical in build and appearance.  This man would also have to be one of the disciple band.  However, at this stage, the number of followers was relatively small, and most of them would have been known by others.  Certainly, if there had been a ‘double’ that man would already have been marked out.  Such a man would also have had to agree to take the punishment and death that was ahead.  People at that time were all too aware of what crucifixion involved – let alone the previous flogging and other suffering – and it would have been an unusual man who would have volunteered to take another's place. Sorry - that idea simply doesn't stand up to any scrutiny, either.

Yet again, there are those who suggest that the disciples stole the Body of Jesus, and then went about with these wild stories of His alleged appearances.  This does have, at first sight, a measure of feasibility that is missing from the previous suggestions, and is the story which the Roman guards were bribed to repeat.  They were even assured that they would not suffer the usual penalty for having ‘lost’ a prisoner (their own deaths) as the chief priests would square things up with the governor! (Matt.28:11–15). One then must ask where the disciples managed to hide the body so that the combined might of Rome and the contemporary Jewish hierarchy would be unable to find it! Another 'non-starter'.

There are additional alternatives that have been proposed - but not one of them bears any worthwhile examination. You may find out more (and a great deal of other information pertinent to "... the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3)) by purchasing the book!!

The bottom line is that, however some may endeavour to explain it away, the resurrection of Jesus is sure and certain. He is risen; He is most certainly risen; He is alive today. He is also coming back to this planet that He created, and on the surface of which He walked and ministered. However, that is a subject for a future post - if such a future exists!!!

May all who read this post, and this blog, be among those "... who have loved His appearing." (II Tim 4:8).