EASTER IS REAL !

Dear China Friends,

EASTER IS REAL !

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. The date for Easter can vary anywhere from March 22 to April 25. This year (2013) it falls on March 31.

Easter is real because Jesus is real. Josephus, a 1st century Roman-Jewish historian, wrote this about Jesus:

“And there arose about this time Jesus, a wise man, if indeed we should call him a man; for he was a doer of marvelous deeds, a teacher of men who receive the truth with pleasure. He won over many Jews also many Greeks. This man was the Messiah. And when Pilate condemned him to the cross at the instigation of our own leaders, those who loved him from the first did not cease. For he appeared to them on the third day alive again, as the prophets had predicted and said many other wonderful things about him. And even now the race of Christians, so named after him has not died” (Antiquities 18,3.3).

There are many Bible accounts of Jesus appearing alive after his death by crucifixion. The most amazing one is his appearance to the apostle Thomas. ‘Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”’ [John 20:24-29 (ESV)].

Because of his resurrection from the dead Jesus could make this wonderful statement to us: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” [John 11:25-26 (ESV)]. Although the body returns to the ground “the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). There the believer’s spirit awaits to be joined with his glorified resurrected body at the end of time. “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” [John 5:28-29 (ESV)].

Does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope of a future life? I am looking forward to seeing my beloved Mary, my sister Becky and other loved ones on the other side. What is your hope?

Your friend,

Tom Atkinson