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| Evangelist Blake Porter's blog |
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| Did Jesus RISE from the Grave |
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Before I get into a much awaited new blog, there are a couple of things I need to clear up. Yes, I will be introducing today’s writing with a quote from Hugh Hefner. However, let me tell you that, NO I do not have a playboy magazine, nor do I have a subscription. Nor did I get this quote out of that magazine. Nor did any pictures accompany this quote.
Ok, now that I have gotten all of that out of the way, “Here we go!”
Hugh Hefner was asked by a journalist, “Mr. Hefner instead of talking about all your girlfriends and your massive empire, allow me to ask you a more challenging question.” Mr. Hefner looked at the journalist and said, “well what else is there to talk about besides that, then he laughed!” The journalist then fired back at him, “Mr. Hefner, what is going to happen to you when you die? When you leave living the life that so many men around the world could only dream of living, what’s out there?” Mr. Hefner, then said,”I haven’t a clue, but I do know that we have no such answers!”
Now this is a very common answer to the question. I myself have been asking that very question to people I stand in a line with, to every taxi cab driver, audiences, friends of friends, those that have debated with me and many many more.
There are tons of different answers that exist out there!
Now as Christians we believe that Death is really not the end at all, but actually a new beginning. That there is a heavenly place where we will get to spend eternity with our creator. Why do we get to do this? Because God sent his only son to walk the earth as you and I do, to let everyone know why he came, who he was and what he was going to do for us. What he would do for us is what many just can’t understand!
HE DIED!!!
That’s right, he died for you and me. BUT! Then three days later he came back. He was raised from the dead. And because of this claim, Jesus then becomes the only one in human history who was dead and three days later came back to life.
And this my friends is the debate of the ages.
Did Jesus rise from the dead??????????????????????????????????
So for Christians, this is not Fact but Truth. Yes, there is a difference between the two, but that is a whole new blog for a different day.
You see Christianity is not just built on moral principles, good teaching or philosophical inquiries. It is that Truth that Jesus Christ has RISEN from the grave.
So, what does the Bible say about this Truth? I think the Apostle Paul was absolutely correct when he said in
1 Corinthians 15:14/if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
So, then if Christianity is a Jenga game and you can pull the bottom piece out (which is the truth that Jesus has Risen) then Christianity itself comes crashing down and falls apart.
And for those that think they can prove this I have 2 major points I want to make today.
1. Read the Bible. During Jesus ministry – he said time and time again, “I will die, I will be buried, and three days later I will rise from the grave conquering death like no one else ever has or ever will. His ministry was not only teaching but also it was preparing.
Mark 8:31/ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
So yes, he did die! I say this again because there are some out there that will say he didn’t. Get this! Muslim scholars will tell you that Jesus didn’t even die on the cross but he passed out, it looked like he died.
“Ummmmm Geniuses!” “He looked like he died because he died!!!!”
Christian Scientists will tell also based on the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy that Jesus didn’t die on the cross. By the way, after studying these guys I truly believe that they are false advertising. They are not Christian for one and they do not have science. It’s like this, ever tried the cereal Grape Nuts? Well, when you pour the cereal into the bowl you will see that there are no grapes and there aren’t any nuts either.
So, I have come to the conclusion that CS is like Grape Nuts. But anyway, I’ll move on!
Again, He died!!! And He was Risen!!!
The Bible says he was run through false trials at night. Then he was beat up by a mob. He was flogged until almost all the flesh had been torn away from his body. Then he had to carry somewhere around 100 pounds on his back, we know this as the cross. With his disfigured, bloody, beat up body he carried this cross up to Golgotha. Then, they took 5 to 7 inch spikes that they hammered into his hands and feet and being the professional mode of execution back in the day, they crucified him. To make sure he was dead, they took a spear ran it under his rib cage and punctured his heart sack so that water and blood flowed out.
So, he has stopped bleeding, and they punctured his heart so it would explode. “HE IS DEAD!”
It is ludicrous to claim that Jesus never really died! If your heart goes, there is no back-up. You are done, GAME OVER!
Now check this out.
2. Not only were there hundreds of witnesses to Jesus resurrection to life, but everyone knew where he was buried. The grave site was empty!
Isaiah 53:9/ He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
700 years before Jesus was born Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be buried (Again, he is dead!) in a rich man’s tomb.
One of his disciples Joseph of Arimathea gave Jesus his tomb. Why? There was no place for Jesus to have his body buried. So, as a gift Joseph of Arimathea gave Jesus his burial plot. Joseph was well known, smart, wealthy and powerful. His position was that of a supreme court justice in our day and age.
Leaders knew that this is where Jesus was buried. Some argue that people went to the wrong tomb when they went to visit the resting place of Jesus and that is why he wasn’t there.
But again, everyone knew where Joseph’s burial plot was. It was not in some hidden, undisclosed location. They would be able to easily confirm the tomb being empty. Not only that, there were guards there, there was a government seal on the tomb, Joseph of Arimathea owned the tomb. And better yet, Angels appeared and asked why the women were looking for the living among the dead.
My translation: “He ain’t here”
All of this cannot be argued. I can go on but I am sure you are tired of reading by now.
So, the debate of the ages, “Did Jesus rise from the tomb and conquer death?”
YES!!!!
Why?
So you and I can spend eternity in heaven with him. And why can we get to do this?
Because of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ! |
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| Do you think Joseph intended to give the tomb to Jesus or merely lend it to him??? It would have been much easier to lend it. |
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