Resurrection Day .." and he (John) saw and Believed"... John 20:8b

 

.." he saw and believed".. . An empty tomb with empty grave clothes showing an exited, raised body transformed John from a mourning disciple into a believer. 

This post is written after hearing the message by John Lennox, "The case for the Resurrection." See here.

And this quote from Norman Anderson,  The Case for the Resurrection - (link here) comes in at around 16 mins..

"  Easter is not primarily a comfort, but a challenge. 

 

Its message is either the supreme fact in history or else a gigantic hoax. This seems to have been realized in the days of the early Church. On the one side there was a little company of men and women who turned the world upside down by their passionate proclamation of that miracle which had transformed their lives: on the other, those who vehemently denounced the whole story as arrant blasphemy. 

 

We ourselves find it hard to see the issue so clear-cut, for ours is a tolerant age and one suspicious of all fanaticism. Most people have not the slightest desire to attack the Easter message; and yet they only half believe it. To them it is a beautiful story, full of spiritual meaning: why worry, then, whether it is literal fact?

But we miss the point. 

Either it is infinitely more than a beautiful story, or else it is infinitely less. If it is true, then it is the supreme fact of history; and to fail to adjust one's life to its implications means irreparable loss. But if it is not true, if Christ be not risen, then the whole of Christianity is a fraud, foisted on the world by a company of consummate liars, or, at best, deluded simpletons. 

 

St. Paul himself realized this when he wrote in:

1 Corinthians 15:14-16

 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
 

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

 

Yet God is true, His Word is true and to be trusted. Praise God, Jesus is indeed risen as He said.

Praying much that all everywhere would see the truth of this, seek Jesus and His gift of salvation and a heavenly home.

For there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.

Hell is the punishment for our sin's curse. I am forever grateful I saw this at 12 years old, and trusted in Jesus as my Saviour from sin! 

How blessed am?! and how I rejoiced with great joy on that day I was saved. 

 

Closing with a hymn I love - "Because  He lives I can face tomorrow" or link here

(Lyrics to hymn)

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Words: Bill & Gloria Gaither

 
Praying earnestly - may the real reason of Easter shine brightly in your heart and home. 

Thanks for reading this post, and especially commenting. I’m sorry I don’t post very often - but at Easter there's 2 posts in 3 days! 😂 truly a joy to have such good news to share. If you'd like to read a different Resurrection post, as well as craft and Australian Nature, I'd really appreciate it if you would to pop over to my craft blog too HERE!.

May God richly bless your day, wherever you may be.

Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz.x 
 
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