The thought of someone dying 2,000 years ago, then being brought back to life again … and them still being alive today … this is mind-blowingly radical!
This right here is Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ is God Almighty come to the earth in a human body. Jesus lived 2,000 years ago. Jesus is the greatest person to ever live on earth, in all of history!
Jesus lived an absolutely perfect life. He did nothing wrong … ever. But those who were jealous of Jesus (because they feared he was taking away their political and religious power) conspired to have Jesus murdered.
Jesus Christ was murdered … although he was completely innocent.
Jesus was killed by crucifixion by the Roman government. He died. His dead body was placed in a grave.
But Jesus did not stay dead. God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit, raised Jesus back to life! (Ephesians 1:17-21) And … Jesus is still alive right now … today!
I can’t help but think of the magnificent mausoleum in ancient Ephesus, built in honor of Celsus, the former governor of the Roman province of Asia. Just like Jesus, Celsus lived about 2,000 years ago. Celsus was a brilliant well-read man. Celsus was an influential and politically powerful man. Celsus died about 2,000 years ago, just like Jesus.
But, unlike Jesus who was brought back to life and is still alive today … Celsus remains dead.
The Library of Celsus has statues adorning its façade celebrating Celsus’s wisdom, his knowledge, his intelligence, and his valor. But for all that, Celsus still remains dead.
The Library of Celsus is the iconic structure most associated with ancient Ephesus. Neither hubby nor I had any idea what Ephesus was like, other than the Library of Celsus which is all we had ever seen. To us, the Library of Celsus was Ephesus.
But in spite of Celsus’s magnificent mausoleum being the iconic structure most associated with Ephesus 2,000 years later … that doesn’t change the fact that Celsus still remains dead.
I think of visiting the graves of George and Martha Washington. Mt. Vernon was the home of George Washington, the very first president of our country.
While visiting Mt. Vernon, we attended a solemn wreath-placing ceremony at the site of their graves.
Even though George Washington is a celebrated hero of our country, being our very first president … that doesn’t change the fact that he is still dead.
Even though magnificent monuments have been built honoring George Washington …
… and schools have been named after George Washington … and streets have been named after George Washington … that doesn’t change the fact that he still remains dead.
What if George Washington had been brought back to life shortly after he died in the 1799 … and not only that, what if he was still alive today?? That would be mind-blowingly radical!
This is what happened with Jesus Christ!
This right here is exactly what happened with Jesus Christ!
Or what about Thomas Jefferson, the third president of our country. Here you can see Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson’s grave is a pleasant walk down a shady lane, to a fenced burial area with a massive imposing monument over his grave. To be honest, I cared so little about it that I didn’t even bother to take a photo of it.
Thomas Jefferson is a celebrated hero of our country! He has his face printed on money.
Magnificent monuments have been built in his honor … housing larger-than-life statues of him.
Roads are named after Thomas Jefferson … schools are named after him … counties are named after him. But for all that, Thomas Jefferson still remains dead.
What if Thomas Jefferson, after dying in 1826 was brought back to life again … and was still alive today! That would be mind-blowingly radical!
This right here is what happened to Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ was killed. He was murdered on a Roman cross by crucifixion. He died.
His dead body was placed in a grave.
Then 3 days later God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, raised Jesus back to life again. Jesus is alive right now! Jesus is in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God right now! This is mind-blowingly radical!
We don’t know exactly where the grave was where Jesus’s dead body was buried. There are guesses. But nobody truly knows. And it doesn’t really matter. Because there is no body in the grave anymore.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
“That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” – Ephesians 1:18-21
It is radical – the thought of an empty grave!
And this empty grave is our key to salvation and everlasting life!
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. … Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:9, 13
