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Easter: Glory and Proof Easter is a wonderful time of year for Christians when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The resurrection is proof that the promise provided by the presence of the Son of God in our world, the promise of eternal life, will be fulfilled. Because of the resurrection, we know that there is truly life after death for those who accept His commands to do the will of the Father and to love - God above all things with all of our being and our neighbors as ourselves. But Easter and the resurrection also provide proof to be shown to those who are skeptical of Jesus' divine nature. In our world today there are many who are either skeptical or just do not believe. So I would ask you to focus upon not just the wonder of Easter, but the proof that it and two other areas of teaching from the Bible provide for our own comfort and salvation. Signs. Jesus worked many signs which themselves would provide substantial proof of His nature as the Son of God. Some of these signs could be dismissed or claimed to be due to other unusual occurrences. There could even be some unique scientific explanations from some of the signs. For instance, Lazarus coming back to life might be explained by his having been in a state of suspended animation and not really dead when laid in the tomb. The healing of the lepers could have been due to the healing waters where they washed. The calming of the seas could have been due to the storm's coming to an end anyway. However, there is no way to explain other signs except through divine intervention making things happen in ways that cannot be explained by either science or coincidence. The changing of water into wine at the wedding feast in Canan could be due to nothing other than divine intervention. That a man born blind was made able to see as an adult could only have been due to divine intervention. Finally, that a person whose bones and limbs were withered and never capable of motivation could get up and walk could only have been due to Jesus' divine nature. There is no credible way to explain any of these occurrences except as miracles. These signs alone should be enough to convince us of Jesus' divine nature as the Son of God. But the Bible offers us much more. Easter and Resurrection. Easter is not only a wonderful time of celebration and hope because of the fulfillment of the promise for eternal life after death. The resurrection also provides irrefutable proof of Jesus' divine nature. Jesus was seen by many of his followers after the resurrection. Therefore, the story is not just one of a body missing from an empty tomb. His having been seen by many is proof that He in fact rose from the dead. The story of His resurrection and having been seen by so many could not be some hoax that was pulled off by persons who wanted to start a movement. Such efforts quickly fall apart. Especially is this so when so many people are part of the hoax, and when there are others with a vested interest in uncovering the hoax. Sooner or later, with so many involved and with others working hard to disprove the story, the truth would have come out if Christ's resurrection were just a made up story. Remember that the leaders of the Jews had stationed a guard at the tomb so that a hoax could not be pulled off. If this had been a hoax, the leaders of the Jews would have revealed the truth, and the movement would have soon died out. Paul's Conversion. The conversion of Saul as related in Acts of the Apostles is the final area of irrefutable proof of Jesus' divine nature. Saul was present when Saint Stephen was stoned to death. Saul's reaction was not one of sorrow for Saint Stephen and other followers of Christ. Instead, Saul became one of the principal persecutors of the early Christians. Yet on the road to Damascus with papers to arrest some early Christians, Saul was blinded by a brilliant light and was addressed by Jesus. The result was the conversion to the apostle known to us as Paul, probably the most significant apostle in the spread of the early Church. While those with Paul did not hear the voice of Jesus, the fact of the such a monumental change cannot reasonably be ascribed to anything other than divine intervention. Wherefore Skepticism. For those who do not believe and who are skeptical about the nature of Jesus and the truth embodied in Christianity, the above three proofs do not hold much sway. However, the lot of the skeptic in light of the above is indeed sad. There is no contrary proof to any of the above. Science cannot provide some unique explanation to which such a person can cling. No hoax has been revealed. In fact, the only recorded information about any of the above substantiates the truth of what is told. To all of this the skeptic's only response is, "I just cannot believe it." That response provides no proof, but merely indicates the futility of trying to change some people's minds. It is truly sad when people will not accept such proofs. Living a life in Christ provides joy and hope beyond understanding. One can experience the peace which He promised - not as the world knows peace, but the peace of a soul at ease in the knowledge of truth of the ultimate fulfillment of the promise of eternal life.
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