Christ's Resurrection: A Truth Worth Accepting!نموونە

He Understands Our Struggle to Believe

By the time Pilate ordered that Jesus be crucified, Rome had perfected the barbaric technique over five centuries of use. They found it an effective public deterrent, as it was so painful, prolonged, and deadly. Those put on crosses were taken down when they were dead. Period.

Yet some skeptics suggest that Jesus was removed from the cross while still alive. There are no historical records validating this. Again, the Romans used crucifixion to rid themselves of a problem, not to create martyrs or bigger problems for themselves. Pilate certainly wouldn't have allowed it.

The Romans knew what a crucified human body went through to reach death: the labored suffocation led to loss of body fluids and multiple organ failure. Relief from the agonizing pain arrived only upon the victims taking their final breaths.

Three facts substantiate that Jesus was dead before His body was removed:

1. The soldiers didn’t have to break Jesus' legs, as was often required, to hasten His death. He was already dead when they checked His status.
   
2. The soldiers confirmed that He was dead by piercing Jesus’ side with a sword.
   
3. Pilate received confirmation of Jesus' death before he allowed Joseph of Arimathea to take possession of Jesus’ broken body.

Imagine the horrific sight that Joseph witnessed up close and personal. The flesh and muscles of Jesus’ body hanging in shreds. His dislocated joints. His loss of blood. His useless hands and feet. Joseph saw every wound as he quickly cleansed and wrapped Jesus’s body in burial rags before sunset.

But just three days later, Jesus was walking and talking and laughing and eating with people!

Does that miracle blow your mind? People who at first couldn’t believe their eyes, were convinced it was really Him. Because they KNEW Jesus. And He knew them.

Jesus understands our human struggle with grasping the miraculous. Did He judge Thomas for withholding belief until Thomas saw and touched His wounds? Nope. Jesus graciously gave Thomas the opportunity to grow his faith. He offers us the same.

Reflection:

Jesus says, “Come unto me.” What doubts are you holding onto that keep you from accepting Him? Do you doubt His great love for you? Do you think you don't need a Savior? We all need Jesus. We gain the greatest gift possible when we realize it.