Because He Lives

Just in time for the holiest time of the year for Catholics and Protestants alike, the documentary based on the book; The Jesus Family Tomb; the Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History has been released and shown on some networks. Of course there was the usual small furor raised in the media, with a few theologians and some from both sides of the issue commenting. Once again the vast majority of Christians refrained from rioting in the streets, or ordering the execution of the producers, and or authors. If Rosie was right I would have expected such things to be widespread. I guess maybe there is a difference in a faith where our Lord has told us to follow His example, to love our enemies, and to turn the other cheek.

This is just another example of the many attacks against the faith of Christians throughout history. It is to be expected, certainly nothing to be surprised at or alarmed about. In case you haven’t heard the particulars, the aforementioned book is the account of the discovery of a set of ancient ossuaries in a tomb in Jerusalem. Ossuaries were containers for the bones of a body that had decomposed. These ossuaries had the names Jesus son of Joseph, Mary, Joseph, Juda son of Jesus, and Mariamne on them. The writers of the book admit that these were very common names in Israel at that time, but through a convoluted series of theories, myths, and conjecture come to the conclusion that these are the bones of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a wife of Jesus, and a son of Jesus. To quote the “Church Lady” of Saturday Night Live, “How convenient”!

If the writers could get past the fact of the very common use of those of names in that time, I wonder if it ever occurred to them that those opposing the early Christian Church might have written the names to foil the message of the resurrection. The writers do mention that in the book of Matthew the authorities feared that Jesus’ body would be stolen. It stands to reason that those same authorities might make attempts in later years to discount what they considered the resurrection myth. There are still plenty of folks today who want to destroy the base of the Christian faith. They will jump at any excuse or opportunity to do so. They will even quote such foolishness as the Gnostic gospels, the Da Vinci Code, etc.

It takes a lot of negative faith to believe that a hoax was perpetrated two thousand years ago that has managed to change the world to the extent that Christianity has. It takes just a little mustard seed of the faith that is given by God to believe the most wonderful message ever heard; that God sent His Son to this earth, revealed His deity through miracles and signs, and that Jesus obeyed His Heavenly Father even to submitting to the suffering and shame of crucifixion. Now here is the best part; that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead to live forever so that all who would believe in that fact could have forgiveness of all sins and a resurrection to everlasting life of their own.

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11 KJV

Here is a link to a really good article on the resurrection by Josh McDowell