We’re becoming saturated with death due to the vicious Covid strains. Death came suddenly on September 11, 2001; thousands of innocent people died abruptly. Many are fearful.
W.C. Fields once said, “It’s a funny world! A man’s lucky to get out of it alive.” But that is just what Jesus did, according to the Scriptures.
Matthew 27:45-28:20 describes the suffering which Jesus endured, and His subsequent burial. When He died, even the hardened centurion who stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross and witnessed the events, uttered, “Truly this was the Son of God” (vs. 54). Read the account for yourself. There were many eyewitnesses who heard and saw what happened. They were not all disciples of Jesus. Some were Roman soldiers, others were Jewish religious leaders who wanted Jesus dead, and there were also common people from the community. They were all there to watch an innocent man suffer horribly, and die.
After the death of Jesus, His body was taken down and given to the disciples for burial. He was laid in a tomb of solid rock. Several women who followed Him watched as Jesus was placed in that tomb.
On the first day of the week, they returned and found that the large stone blocking the tomb’s entrance had been rolled away. Angels told them that Jesus was no longer there.
Countless eyewitnesses then saw their friends, neighbors, and relatives who had previously died, walking around the street, after Jesus was raised from death. You can have hope of your own resurrection because Jesus conquered death!
Please read the entire resurrection account in Matthew 28.
Some Roman soldiers who guarded Jesus’ tomb went into town to inform religious leaders what had occured. Those foolish leaders concocted a wild story which was “widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day” (Matthew 28:15).
The Gospel writer wrote within the lifetime of the witnesses. There were many eyewitnesses to these events. Carefully read what the Jews had told the soldiers to say. It was more unbelievable than what had really happened (28:11-15).
If you need hope and confidence of getting out of this world alive, please read Romans 8:1-14; 5:1-11; and 6:1-14. You might also read 1 John 1:510; Galatians 3:26-27; and John 14:1-3.
The Scriptures assure us that it is possible to leave this world alive. Jesusg proves it by His own resurrection from the grave. So, why fear death?