Something world shaking happened that third day that was totally unexpected; a crucified criminal, dead and buried, vanished from a sealed, guarded tomb. But How?
This man later appeared to women and men, none of whom would first believe him when He told them who he was and that he was risen from the dead. Hadn’t they seen him die?
Unlike a ghost, or floating specter, he suddenly appeared, ate, drank, displayed his wounds from the crucifixion, walked along a busy road way in lengthy conversation, then vanished from sight. Somehow.
So absolute were these witnesses in what they saw, many of these men and women were martyred for speaking out so boldly. But, why would they be so willing?
Their message was not one of esoteric or feel good spirituality. Their message to the world was their personal experience with the bodily resurrection of a dead man. Who ever saw such a thing before?
Hebrew tradition told these witnesses that this man was the Messiah, the annointed one, that was prophesied in their Scriptures for a millennia. What did that all mean?
If you and I witnessed such a thing, would we be willing to go to our deaths telling others about what we saw? What about in today’s culture? Will we go to our deaths telling others about our experience with the Risen Lord? Or do we stay silent, and stay safe?
