Happy Easter 2011

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Easter is the most important date on the Christian calendar. The day symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Easter church attendance rises up, and those on the outside wonder why the “self-righteous holy rollers” even waste the time, without ever investigating Christianity themselves. The faith is not just some religion, but a relationship with God that is made possible because of Christ’s resurrection.

A conversion to Christianity normally results in positive changes in the lives of the new Christian, often putting to rest the common secular belief that people don't change. People do change, and in the case of the new Christian, the attribution is normally given to God.

Faith is a strange thing, for some. How could a person step out to believe in something that cannot be proven? How can they be so sure that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh come to take away the sins of the world?

Exhaustively studying the strips of historical data that surrounds Christ’s death and resurrection, the fact is that there is plenty of evidence to support the faith. The evidence not only supports that Jesus Christ existed, but also supports his actual resurrection as well.

Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion, and laid to rest in a tomb. The tomb was later found empty by women who testified to that fact to the disciples (at a time when a woman's testimony was not normally considered). One must ask that if Christ's death and resurrection was not real, then the conspirators writing the account would have stuck with what culture dictated. It would be more believable if men were the witnesses. The fact that women were the witnesses, and were believed enough for Peter to go check it out, lends one to believe that possibly the story was not made up.

All other arguments against the resurrection can be easily discounted after one studies the historical data. After all is done, it turns out that it would take more faith to maintain the belief of atheism than to become a follower of Jesus.

Granted, we are 2,000 years removed from the actually crucifixion and resurrection, but there are eyewitness accounts and a written record of intelligent and respected people who were there.

Jesus was crucified until dead and buried on Friday. He was buried before the Sabbath. Saturday was the full day he was in the tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers so nobody could steal His body and pretend He had risen.

Early on Sunday morning, the tomb was empty.

The message is one of love from God. He so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son, that Whosoever believeth in Him shall not parish, but receive everlasting life.

In the first Gospel, Matthew tells of the rumor started that the disciples stole the body when the guards were sleeping.

In Mark, the women were told to tell the disciples, but the book goes on to say, "They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid."

In Luke, scripture says the women told the disciples but at first were not believed. Peter then went to the tomb and saw the linen cloths, "and he went away wondering to himself what had happened."

In John, Mary Magdalene ran from the empty tomb and told the disciples the body was stolen. Peter and John hurried to the tomb to verify Mary's story, and do not at first understand that Jesus had risen from the dead.

With a number of appearances from the resurrected Christ, the disciples began to realize that Jesus had in fact resurrected. After that, the number of believers grew and the message was taken to heart and outward to the world.

Fifteen years later Paul, who before he was a believer, had persecuted believers, became a believer because of the personal witness of those who were with Jesus.

Now it is our turn. The record stands, the witnesses have been quoted. God's love knows no bounds, and He provided Christ for us so that we may be saved. But we must be willing to recognize the truth.

Easter is the reason that salvation is available. All we must do is proclaim our faith.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentart