When my church called for members of the congregation to read scripture on Sunday mornings, I volunteered and am called upon to do so every 4 to 6 weeks. I have been encouraged to make any short comment about the reading that I might feel appropriate and practiced with the music team prior to service.
> This week I was given ICor. 15:3 - 10 to read. These verses reflect Paul's comments to the Corinthian church about the number of people who witnessed Christ after His resurrection from the dead, focusing on the truth about the Good News.
* In Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus is the most compelling piece of evidence that He is Savior and the Son of God. From the very first day, the enemy has planted seeds of doubt regarding the resurrection.
> An interesting statement is that Jesus was seen by 500 people at one time - after His resurrection. I have heard this scripture before but never read where the event was documented in the Bible, so I went to seek it out.
IT'S NOT !
In deed, I went to search out the passages and there are none. What I did find was a lot of anti-Christ comments on how this proves He did not rise from the dead as our Savior and Son of God.
> This is ignorance at it's best. So many set themselves up in judgement of situations they know nothing about; never read or study. I dare any doubter to PROVE Jesus is NOT risen from the dead. There is more documentation to the contrary - if you open your eyes.
> Let me begin by stating ancient history does document Jesus as existing in ancient Nazareth. The major question is that of His status as Son of God, Creator and Savior of mankind - His divinity.
> Then, let me state, He was dead when taken from the cross. This is documented with the statement that water flowed from His side when pierced with a Roman soldier's spear and witnessed by those present. This "water" is the content of the protective sac around the human heart. If the sac is pierced, a clear fluid runs out and the heart stops.
> There were many other encounters listed as witness accounts: Mary Magdalene was first Jn.20:11-17, Matthew tells that she was with another woman Mt.28:7-10, two followers on the road to Emmaus Lk.24:13-27, Apostles in the Upper Room Lk.24:36-49 and Jn.20:19-29 (Thomas was not present but other followers were), Thomas Jn.20:24-28, James (brother to Jesus) also stated by Paul ICor.15:7. Paul states his life changing encounter on the road to Damascus Acts9:1-19. He appeared again in the Upper Room Mk.16:9-19 to the 11 Apostles.
> Let me also remind everyone that the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Apocrypha and the Agnostic books are incomplete. No one can be positive the encounter with the 500 witnesses did not happen; written documentation has just not yet been found.
> John 20:29 Jesus tells Thomas of those blessed for belief - without physical evidence.
In John 20:30 & 31, John tells us of witnessing versus believing.
In Mark 16:14 we are again told of the blessing of belief without proof.
> It is our FAITH in things not seen that will bring the greatest reward.
> Indeed, the benefits of knowing our Savior in our personal lives - finding Him within ourselves in the quiet moments, is what will bring us the greatest reward - that of knowing Him on a personal level.
