Only those who have ever been accused of a crime,
can understand the thoughts that go through the mind of the prisoner as they
await the verdict of the jury and the sentence from the judge. Hope, anguish,
despair and resignation – even more so if they actually know that they are not
guilty.
Although this is the April edition of the Magazine,
many readers will have it before Easter which is at the very end of March. And
it was at that first Easter that the most extraordinary and important trial in
history took place.
In essence, Jesus , the Son of God, no less, was
falsely accused, tried by an illegally
convened ‘court’, was convicted and sentenced to death by crucifixion. And
three days later He rose again from the dead. That is the factual sequence of
events.
Immediately before His arrest,
Jesus was in the Garden
of Gethsemane praying to
God: “Father, if you are
willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Of course He dreaded the horrendous physical
pain of crucifixion but perhaps, even more so, He dreaded the separation from
God even for just three days as He took on Himself the guilt of us all.
Some people have questioned the evidence for the Resurrection but it is
very powerful and many who have approached it sceptically have been convinced
afterwards. Read, for example “Who Moved
the Stone” by Frank Morrison. Morrison
was legally trained and sought to write a book disproving the Resurrection but
in the course of his meticulous research he became convinced that it was real. Read also the short book by lawyer and
spiritual sceptic, Lee Strobel, “The Case for Easter”.
Rev Chris Thom observes that the Resurrection authenticates Jesus’
victory on the Cross. Once you accept Jesus was who He said He was – the Son of
God – the question is not only about why He rose from the dead but also why He
allowed Himself to be killed in the first place. Jesus died as a ransom – His death paid the
penalty for the sins of the world – yours and mine. His crucifixion was not a
terrible blunder, not a defeat. His crucifixion and Resurrection were a victory,
the means by which we can be forgiven, declared innocent and can be brought
into a right relationship with God.
The Resurrection means that Jesus is alive now. He was raised from death and is alive for all
time and eternity. He is alive today and can be known today and He wants us to
share eternity with Him. His
Resurrection means that we will rise too! Death is not the end :
eternity lies beyond it. What a privilege! What an invitation!
And if Jesus shrank from the prospect of just three days separation from
God, how important is it that we accept His offer and so share all eternity
with Him? The alternative is the awful,
everlasting pain of emptiness and separation.
The regret of refusing the invitation given to us from that first
Easter.
So the wonderful “Headline News”
is that Jesus is alive and can be encountered and known today. As Jesus
rose, so also will all those who put their trust in Him.
Want to know more ?: Come to our next Christianity Explored course
starting on April 15th.
Anthony Leaver
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