3rd March, 2006

LLOYD HARKNESS

The guessing game is over. Creative stories about crossing the River Styx, fanciful dreams of reincarnated souls, or stepping off into nothing after the biological clock has wound itself out, are all notions shredded by Jesus' resurrection.

The evidence is in. Jesus was no illusionist - not in life, not in death, not in resurrection.

CELEBRATING THE RESURRECTION: Easter eggs are used in celebrations as a symbol of the new life Christ brought to the world when He rose from the dead. PICTURE: Anka Draganski (www.sxc.hu) "Resurrection is foundational to God's revealed mystery of redeeming mankind. It is Jesus resurrection that exerts a power in believer's lives, a power that we need to be completely connected to and operating in."

The healings, the miracles, the confrontations with religious leaders, the teaching, the spirit of the man; drew crowds and transformed lives. The life of Jesus was no illusion.

The flagellation, the thorny crown, the battered and exhausted cross-carrying body, the pierced wrist and ankles, the gasping lungs, the spear thrust through his side to be certain; brought not only the centurion to the conclusion "Surely this was the Son of God". Jesus' death was no illusion.

And Jesus 17 appearances to different people in different situations, after His predicted resurrection, were no illusion. Jesus appeared to one and He appeared to 500. Some time after his ascension He appeared to Paul, turning his life around. Much later He appeared to an old John so that John could record the Revelation, God's final book for humanity.

In the first appearances, Jesus' resurrection was so out of the mental reach of His followers that He had to first span the gulf of shattered hope and confusion. Even John, the closest to Jesus, had to scrutinize the tomb and inspect the grave clothes. These weren't gullible people. They were people who swam up out of the miasma of despair to the joy of being with Jesus again, a resurrected Jesus. The evidence was in; right down to Thomas sticking his finger in the spear and nail holes in Jesus.

The resurrected Jesus appeared and disappeared, ate food, was poked and issued instructions, passed through walls and ascended into the sky. People recognised his voice and the manner in which He did things such as breaking bread at a meal. Those same people became men and women who were willing to die for Jesus. No one or no group of people knowingly fabricates a series of lies and then consistently risks life and limb for a lie.

Resurrection is life beyond death. Jesus was the 'firstfruits' of this life everlasting, the 'firstfruits' of a band of disciples who would follow him, across the last 2000 years, not just in the here and now. Jesus not only ascended to the right hand of the Father to intercede on our behalf but to also prepare a place for us.

Jesus was dead for three days. His resurrected body showed no sign of decay. In fact, bodily He appeared to be the same as when they last saw Him, when taken from the cross, but superior in many ways (such as, for example, ascending into heaven).

Similarly, resurrected disciples will be able to recognise each other even though, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, our bodies will be vastly more stunning. A little like a seed that has become a magnificent plant, the new body will be incorruptible, glorious and powerful. We can also add that there will be no marriage (Mark 12:25) in the resurrection.

There are many unanswered questions in respect to the resurrection but what we do know is all good news. The truth and the reality of resurrection stem from Jesus teaching and experience. Our salvation, our forgiveness, our faith, and the very love of God are dependant upon it.

Paul's prayer was to know the power of Jesus resurrection (Philippians 3:10) because it was that power, that love abounding, which steered the course of His life and was imparted through Him to others.

Resurrection is foundational to God's revealed mystery of redeeming mankind. It is Jesus resurrection that exerts a power in believer's lives, a power that we need to be completely connected to and operating in.

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