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March 25, 2008
The Power of the Resurrection
New scientific evidence, including DNA analysis conducted at one of the world's foremost molecular genetics laboratories, as well as studies by leading scholars, suggests a 2,000-year-old Jerusalem tomb could have once held the remains of Jesus of Nazareth and his family.
This story apparently defied the basic Christian belief of the empty tomb of Jesus of Nazareth, upon the claim of the discovery of the the Lost Tomb of Jesus.
On Saturday, 24 Feb 2007, Doctor Kloner, an archeologist dismissed the claims. "It makes a great story for a TV film," he told The Jerusalem Post. "But it's impossible. It's nonsense."
Faith is not restricted to an intellectual ascent that requires scientific methods to establish or disclaim the fact of the resurrection . Faith entails in itself totality of human experience that encompasses all the human faculties of body, heart, mind and soul. In other words, faith is not only loving “with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind” but also believing. On the Easter morning, though the women encountering Christ totally beyond their belief, they embraced and recognized Christ, as soon as they saw Him! The women were indeed privileged to meet the Risen Savior on the Easter morn. The resurrection of Christ, needs to be embraced.
The Risen Christ appeared to the apostles at varied times:
To the bewildered disciples after they buried all their apparent hope together with Jesus of Nazareth, he opens their eyes on the way to Emmaus, teaching them how the Old Testament must be fulfilled in Him.Ultimately opens their eyes to recognize Him in the Breaking of Bread.
To the frightened apostles, he appeared on the lake shore and cooked food for them, appeared behind the closed doors and said Peace be with you.
To one of the doubting apostles, he opens his side and asks him to verify for himself that he is the risen Lord and lauds those that had not seen Him and yet believed.
To the one who wanted to cling to Him, he tells her not to hold on to Him that He must ascend to His father. To all those who witnessed His gory death on Good Friday, Jesus gives the hope of everlasting life.
As a believer in the resurrection, we are certain that our God is real and alive. He came among us and pitched his tent with us in every way except sin. And therefore, as a human being He knows what each of us is going through in our own personal life. As our God He is there for us all the time, only if we could call on Him.
We can hope that all our suffering will end and have a redemptive value because of Christ. That each of us have our own cross to carry in this world until we cross over to our heavenly abode. No suffering is unbearable and no pain is capable of demoralizing us. Betrayals, Denials, falsehood with their accompanying pain, struggle, sorrow and suffering are going to be part of this human existence. But we can overcome all things in the Risen Christ who will strengthen us. "And if the Spirit of him who raised Christ from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you" (Romans 8:11).
We can hope for a resurrected body and life everlasting as did Jesus experience, as He rose as a victor over death and its dark domain. Our God is an awesome God at the same time interested in our personal well being. Remember God loves us no matter where we are in the scale of human standard of success or acceptability. He is risen. He is alive. He is here at our beck and call. Will we have the courage to call on Him?
Posted by frleo at March 25, 2008 10:43 AM
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