Dead Or Alive
READ: John 20:1-8
They went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. —Luke 24:3
Long lines of visitors from all over the world wait patiently day after day to visit Lenin’s Tomb and view his embalmed body. Although he died in 1924, the corpse of that Communist leader has seemingly suffered no decomposition. It looks deceptively lifelike. And its appearance is indeed deceptive. Skillful artists monitor the preserved corpse, artificially coloring its face and using wax to fill in any lines or the smallest spot of decay.
People also regularly visit Jerusalem to see the place where Jesus died and was buried. But there’s a striking contrast—there is no body of the crucified Christ anywhere. Oh, there is one rock-hewn tomb, where according to tradition the nail-scarred, spear-driven, thorn-crowned corpse of Christ was laid. But resurrected by the power of God His Father, the Savior left His graveclothes behind when He emerged from the tomb, like a butterfly abandoning its cocoon.
Jesus is alive and you can know His presence today. Because of His atoning death and the empty tomb, you can have eternal life (1 Cor. 15:20-22). You need only to admit that you are a sinner and want His salvation. He’ll give you new life now, and one day you’ll see Him and be with Him forever (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Grave, where is thy victory now?
See the light upon His brow!
Empty—see, the stony bed;
Christ is risen from the dead! —Chisholm
Christ’s empty tomb guarantees our full salvation.
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Basics Of Faith > Jesus Christ > Resurrection
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