IT'S A FACT...JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD!

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.  Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, He has risen from the dead.'  So the last deception will be worse than the first."

Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?  Well I believe it, and that settles it.  In fact it does not matter whether or not I believe it or not.  He rose from the dead and that settles it.  However, we know that many people do not believe it.  From the very beginning, there have been doubters.  In fact, it was assumed by the Pharisees, and Pilate, that people would believe it and they took action to make sure that as few people as possible would ever believe it.

After Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus down from the Cross and laid Him in the tomb that was owned by Joseph, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and suggested that guards be posted at the tomb to insure that the body would not be taken by men, making it look as though He had risen.  Pilate did as they asked.  But as we know, early Sunday Morning, the tomb was empty.  Jesus had risen as He said that He would.

The people who doubt the Resurrection of Jesus put forth several theories; some of which I will mention here.

1.  The Swoon Theory - It says that Jesus did not die, He just passed out.  Later He came to himself and walked out.

2.  The Spirit Theory -  The Spirit of Jesus was the only thing that appeared to the people, His body was still concealed in the tomb.

3.  The Hallucination Theory -  The Disciples were hallucinating.  Perhaps they were a little intoxicated.

4.  The Stolen Body Theory - The Disciples came and stole the body of Jesus when the guards were not looking and acted as if He had risen.

5.  The Wrong Tomb Theory -  When Mary and Mary Magdalene went to anoint the body of Jesus, they went to the wrong tomb.

6.  The Hoax Theory - It was all a Hoax.  Jesus did not die and His body was not put into a tomb.

7.  Mistaken Identity Theory - It was not really Jesus who was crucified, but someone who looked like Him.

Well, some people will always doubt.  But for me and my house, we know Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead!  And I am glad about it!  Hallelujah!