Am I Good Enough To Go To Heaven?

"Am I good enough to go to heaven? Yes, I think I am. Only people like murderers, child molesters, rapists and lying politicians actually deserve to go to hell. Those are the really bad people."

Sounds reasonable, right? But if that's the criteria by which we are comparing our own actions to in order to determine if we are “good enough” to go to heaven or “bad enough” to go to hell, then most people should be heading for the pearly gates when they die, right?

Image from planet-science.com

Qualification for entrance to heaven (or hell) is not based on how we compare to others or how we compare to the standards we set for ourselves. Your life may look pretty good through your own eyes, but what if you looked at your life through the eyes of One who is sinless? What if we were judged not just by our actions, but by our thoughts? If we're not going to be honest with ourselves and admit that our actions alone would condemn us, then how about the thoughts that run through our head. What about how that flash of judgment that crossed your mind, ever so briefly, when you saw that grossly overweight woman at Walmart dressed in those tight and revealing clothes, folds of skin spilling out of ever strained edge of clothing? What about the hate (and angry words) that rose within you when someone righteously judged you of living in sin? What about those thoughts of how you were going to get even with the one who just stabbed you in the back at work? How about seeing someone attractive and contemplating, just for a moment, what they looked like naked or contemplating having sex with them if given the chance? Am I hitting home yet? No? What about advertising the short comings of others in order to make yourself look good? What about flaunting your “wealth” in front of those who are surviving from paycheck to paycheck? What about contemplating what new possession to purchase next instead of figuring out how you can spend that money to help those in need? That's just the tip of the iceberg. Unrighteous thoughts stream through our mind on a daily basis. Can you honestly say that you are in complete control of your thoughts and emotions? I didn't think so. Our “goodness” when compared to God’s standard for “good” falls far, far short.

The biggest mistake we make is when we trivialize our sins. Have you ever lied? We may say, “Yes, but they were little white lies, nothing serious. I never intended to hurt anyone when I lied.” Have you ever stolen something? We may say, “I've taken some office supplies or shop supplies home from work, but no one's going to miss them. Besides, I didn't have enough time to go shopping for them myself. I live a very busy life.” Can you see what we’re doing? We’re trivializing our crimes. What we’re saying is that what we did was of so little consequence that we can’t actually call them sins, but the bible warns, “He who says he has no sin deceives himself.” (1John 1:8)

The truth is if you've lied, then you are a liar. If I catch you in a lie, wouldn't I be just in lowering my level of trust in you? If you have stolen anything (the value of the stolen item is irrelevant), you are a thief. If I was at work with you and caught you walking out the door with company property, should I believe that you would never steal something of greater importance or value if given the opportunity? Maybe even steal from me?  If you've looked at someone with lust, then you are an adulterer. If you constantly lusted after women, would I trust you to be around my wife when I wasn't there (or would I even feel comfortable with you being around here even if I was there)? These may seem like small indiscretions, but they hold serious consequences, not just on a human level, but even greater on a spiritual level.

What we need to hear is the Judge’s ruling for lying and stealing and adultery. The judgment is that those who commit those sins shall "have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone." Revelation 21:8  

So, all liars, thieves and adulterers go to hell. You may say that you don’t believe in hell, but that’s just like a criminal saying that he doesn’t believe he'll ever be caught, tried and sent to prison. What we believe or don’t believe doesn’t change the outcome of God’s judgment.

If we are honest with ourselves, then we have to admit that we fall far short of God’s perfection. So what do we do? What can we do to make things right between us and God? Maybe church attendance or helping out the less fortunate. After all, good works must count for something, right? Maybe if the good things I do outweigh the bad, that will get me to heaven. No! Some religions may offer this destructive teaching, but nowhere in the bible does it state that we can do anything of ourselves to rid ourselves of the consequences of the sin in our life. Even ONE sin separates us from God. So what’s to become of us?

We must let go of our attempts to save ourselves and reach out to the One who can save us. The moment we cease our own attempts to sneak into heaven’s back gates and instead repent and believe in Jesus, depending on Him to save us, our life changes. The bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not works, lest anyone boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

You may still wonder how a perfect and loving God could send anyone to hell. To put it plainly, He doesn’t. Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. They, in turn, passed this sin nature down through their offspring, infecting everyone who would ever be born. God created hell for Satan and the angels who rebelled against God. Hell was never intended for mankind, but mankind fell, and that opened them to eternal separation from God in hell because sin cannot enter God's presence in heaven. Thankfully, God created a way of escape for those who choose to repent and give their lives to Him. The Jewish people brought their sin offerings to the Lord at the Temple of God to be slain, the blood offered to temporarily cover their own sins. God did something much more wonderful. He sent the Perfect Lamb to be a sacrifice for us all. His shed blood didn't just cover our sin, His blood eradicated them broke Satan's power over us.

Those who seek to have their sins covered in the precious blood of the Lamb of God receive the gift He offers... the gift of forgiveness and of a restored relationship with our Father as we go from spiritual death to a total rebirth... a spiritual resurrection... being born again and receiving the promise of eternal life with God.

Yes, those who surrender their lives to God and live for Him receive this gift, but those who do not make that choice remain in their sinful state and await the judgment that comes for all who die in their sins. Many who hear about this gift don’t take the opportunity to ask for it. They would rather complain and argue about why God would let mankind sin in the first place or why He made a man who was capable of sin, rather than stop, think and repent. Unfortunately, they would rather keep arguing, using human knowledge and understanding, making vain arguments all because they can't fathom the things of God.

Be encouraged, because just as God has continued to call out to you to repent, He continues to call everyone else who is unsaved, offering them this free gift of salvation. Most will scoff at the offer or outright refuse to hear anything about it. Will you be one of them or will you heed the call of Jesus and finally take that step forward, choosing Him and the eternal destiny He has for you? It’s your choice whether to spend eternity with God. YOUR CHOICE! To do nothing is to choose to stay the way you are.

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

First published on June 3, 2010

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For My Yoke Is Easy And My Burden Is Light

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"   2 Corinthians 6:14

These scriptures are staples of our Christian walk. Let’s look at this from a Jewish perspective.

From what I understand, during the time of Jesus’ ministry here on earth, a Rabbi's yoke was his way of interpreting the Torah.  The way to find out what a Rabbi’s yoke was, was to ask him what he thought was the most important commandment.

What was Jesus’ yoke?  Let’s see what His answer was when He was asked what the most important commandment was:

³⁶“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

So what is Jesus’ yoke? Love God/Love your neighbor.  If that’s the yoke, then what’s the burden we’re pulling along with us? The burden is keeping the word of God.

The yoke is used to make the burden lighter.  If the yoke is to love God and to love our neighbor, then love compels us to keep the word of God, making the burden of keeping God’s word easier... lighter.  

Being unequally yoked means you are unable to keep up with what you’re yoked to because of size or ability or because of walking in opposing directions.  If the yoke you've taken up causes you to walk beside someone other than Jesus, then you are automatically unequally yoked.

We can apply the yoke to different areas of our lives, like marriage, relationships, etc… but I believe the crux of this scripture is all about Jesus!  If we’re not yoked along side Jesus, then who or what are we yoked to?  Religion?  Self?  Poverty?  Stress?  Anger? 

We need to be yoked to Jesus.  He’ll never take us in a direction we shouldn't be moving in or travel faster than we are able.

First published on July 9, 2013.

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Stop Casting Pearls and Start Shaking The Dust Off Your Feet Christians!!!

As Christians, we know how subtle the enemy (Satan) can be. He often dissuades us from pursuing a relationship with God and tries to convince us to take a break from Christianity for a while, hoping to separate us from Him and lead us to that wide and easy path that leads to death. What we don't expect from the enemy is encouragement to continue witnessing to the lost.

What???  Satan convinces us to continue witnessing? I believe that he does, and here is why I say that. He convinces us to continue witnessing to a resistant soul, someone who is so entangled in the enemy's web that the enemy is convinced he/she will never submit to God. Why would he do this? Think about it. If the enemy can get you to spend your time constantly witnessing to a resistant individual who does nothing but reject God and mock you, then those unsaved individuals out there who are truly seeking the truth will be, for the most part, ignored.  Great plan, don't you think?

There are those who eagerly accept the word of God, and there are those who reject it outright. The problem I used to have (and many Christians still have) is that I used to spend a lot of time trying to use the word of God to show people that God is real and that they need to repent of their sin. Unfortunately, the more resistant a person was to receiving the word of God, the more time was taken away from those who were urgently seeking someone to answer their questions about salvation.

Look, Jesus gave us the perfect example on how to deal with non-believers who totally reject who God is.

• Don’t cast your pearls before them (they’re just going to trash the word of God). 
  • “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7:6
• Shake the dust off your feet and walk away (if they’re not going to accept the salvation message, move on).  
  • "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."  Matthew 10:14
• Let the blind lead the blind (if they’re intent on continuing in the same direction, let them go).  
  • “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15:14
    

We can’t neglect the rest of the harvest just because of one person. The consequences of that are just too great.  

Jesus taught those who wanted to listen.  I don’t recall any recorded incident in the bible where Jesus purposely sat down with those who rejected Him and tried to convince them otherwise. Everyone makes that personal decision whether to believe and repent or to deny and remain blissfully ignorant. Who were those who followed Jesus out into the fields and hills? While some were there to mock Him or test Him, the majority were those who wanted to hear what He had to say, to sit under this Prophet's teaching. They were those who thirsted after God.

We must understand that having a human nature means that we take on much more responsibility than God wants us to have.  We constantly have to battle that way of thinking.  It’s the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to convict the sinner, to open his eyes and to change his heart.  It’s His responsibility to convince the sinner of who God is.  Our job is to share the word of God with those who will listen and to point people to Jesus.  If they truly don't have any desire to give their life to God, then we’re to move on, NOT double down and put a more concerted effort and increased time into trying to convince them otherwise.

"That's not loving... we need to fight for them until the very end... how can you call yourself a Christian if you're willing to give up on them so easily? Surely God didn't say..."  Can you hear the enemy's voice?  He's trying to make us feel guilty for abandoning someone to hell.  Don't listen to him.  The enemy uses this flaw in Christians to delay them from reaching those who the enemy knows are on the verge of repentance or who have opened their heart enough to begin seeking the truth.  He has convinced Christians that we can’t love the sinner if we’re willing to walk away, but that’s a lie.  We've been instructed by God to do just that.  

For those who have hardened their heart against God, our personal walk with the Lord is our witness.  That doesn't mean that we don't pray for all of those who have rejected Him.  Our prayers for lost souls is powerful, but let's us not be deceived into believing that our one-on-one witnessing is the only way to witness to these individuals who have a heart of stone.

So what do I suggest?  If someone doesn't accept the salvation message, offer to give them some information (tracts) or point them to a specific Christian web site.  If they won’t accept the information, then let them know that you’re there for them if they have any questions or if they need prayer.  Always share the love of Christ with them through selfless acts and a warm smile.   That is a wonderful witness.  

The most important thing is to allow God to place you in the harvest field to reap as much fruit as possible before your time here on earth is over.  We're called to plant, sow and reap the harvest.  We're not called to pull up the tares.  We need to leave that to God.  Continue to pray for those who have rejected the message of Jesus Christ, but continue even more in pursuing those who are hungry for Him.

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Repent and be forgiven! Believe and be saved!

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The Ottoman Empire Is Being Revived As The Feet Of Iron And Clay

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And God Will Send Them A Strong Delusion

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VIDEO: AND GOD WILL SEND THEM A STRONG DELUSION

As the millennial reign of Christ approaches, so do the ominous hoof beats of the coming Tribulation. Biblical prophecy makes it clear that God's going to send a powerful delusion upon an unrepentant population. (2 Thess. 2:8-12)

Ever since sin entered the garden, mankind has chosen self over God. It's the result of our fallen nature. The desire to live our own lives apart from God is just as strong today as it was in the beginning, the evidence of which we can find in the myriad of false religions and belief systems in the world. We have Wicca, Scientology, Humanism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Universalism, Rastafarianism, Agnosticism, Atheism, Islam, etc... Mankind's attempt to bring meaning to their lives apart from the One True God continues to occupy the minds of the majority of the population as they spend their time fulfilling their own desires and seeking their own "truth"... a truth that fits their own individual moral code. Christians know there is only one "truth," and that is Jesus. 

What happens when an individual, group, city, nation or worldwide population becomes stiff necked, hard-hearted, and turn their backs on God, choosing instead to satisfy their own fleshly desires and worship their own false gods? The bible is full of examples of the consequences of these actions. Here are just a few you may be familiar with:

- The fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3)

- The great worldwide flood. (Genesis 6-7)

- The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and their inhabitants. (Genesis 19:1-25)

- The fall of Nineveh (Nahum 1-3)

- 40 Years of God's people wandering in the desert, denying an entire generation entrance into the promised land. (Numbers 14)

... and numerous incidences of God's chosen being taken into captivity.

After these judgments, mankind, as a whole, has still refused to repent. Lessons learned are soon forgotten as time passes and memories fade, taking what was once a mighty work of God and diminishing it to the point where it's seen as just an old fable. So here we are today, in what people would like to believe is a more enlightened age. As mankind continues to push God away, they are unwittingly setting themselves up for the consequences to follow, just as those who have lived before us have done. This time, the consequences will involve falling under a strong delusion that God's going to send during the Tribulation.

What exactly is the definition of a delusion?

Strong's: Delusion(4106) plané Error, delusion, deception

Oxford Dictionary: "an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument..."

Cambridge Dictionary: "something a person believes and wants to be true, when it is actually not true"

Mirriam Webster: "something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated"

Some of the consequences of this "delusion" will be:

- Being ensnared by a one world religion and one world government/economic system

- Receiving the mark of the Beast, which will mean declaring themselves an enemy of God, suffering God's wrath during the Tribulation, and sealing their ultimate fate.

- Being deceived into believing that Christians are the enemy and participating in the worldwide persecution and execution of born-again believers.

So, who exactly are these people who will fall under this strong deceptive influence? Read Romans 1:18-32, John 8:42-47, and 2 Thess. 2:8-12. As you can see, mankind hasn't changed throughout the course of human history. Mankind's increase in knowledge has allowed us to invent new and convenient ways to sin, but our sin nature has not changed. Sin also challenges born-again believers, who continue to live in these fleshly tents and experience daily battles.

Man's heart is wicked, God's word tells us so (Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 15:19). Being under the influence of this strong delusion will cause reason and sound logic to fly out the window. As a result, most, if not all, will never experience a repentant heart as they endure the judgments of God during the Tribulation. No. Instead of coming to God on their knees, they will do just the opposite. They will shake their fists at God, curse Him, and reject Him. (Rev. 16:8-11)

God will be sending this strong delusion at a time when born-again believers have already been raptured, rescued in the blink of an eye from the 7-year Tribulation to come. Those remaining on the earth will be in one of two groups:

- Those who repent and believe (yes, it is still possible to become a born-again believer during the Tribulation).

- Those who will continue to reject God.

Unfortunately, with the Holy Spirit no longer holding back the full force of evil in the world after the rapture, Christians during this time will suffer worldwide persecution. That would include the United States as well. Even now, Christians are being persecuted all over the world. Even in the United States, bible believing Christians are being classified as radicals and possible terrorists. We are in the first stages of worsening persecution.

During the Tribulation, those living under this strong delusion will honestly believe that they are performing a beneficial act for the good of mankind and world peace by persecuting, incarcerating, torturing and killing those that they deem "intolerant," "racist," "judgmental," "divisive," "dangerous," "phobic," and, believe it or not, "delusional." But that's not all. Sin's ferocity, no longer restrained, will be multiplied many times over. If the unsaved are willing to try and beat down the doors of the Supreme Court, riot and burn down and destroy neighborhoods, physically attack and "cancel" those who disagree with them, and label truth as lie while ignoring or distorting the evidence, as we've witnessed in recent history, if they snap at a moment's notice and verbally and/or physically attack someone who doesn't support their cause to murder babies in the wombs of their mothers, if they are willing to flaunt their hatred by holding up and effigy of a president's bloody, severed head, if they can go on television or stand on their soap box in public to incite groups of other individuals to harass law abiding citizens, if they can call for the death of those who don't agree with their sinful beliefs, if they can do all this and more in the name of what they deem is "right" in their eyes at this moment in history, then when the full force of sin is released, the harassing, beating, torturing and killing of Christians will become the answer to their "prayers." 

This strong delusion will help the Antichrist affirm his position as the head of the New World Order, a one world government. Those unsaved individuals who are under this strong delusion will see the Antichrist as mankind's savior, during a time of economic and social upheaval. When the Antichrist is killed and then "resurrected" a few days later during the middle of the Tribulation and at the start of the Great Tribulation, he will secure his place as their temporary "god." 

To recap:

- Biblical prophecy reveals that God is going to send a strong worldwide delusion during the Tribulation.

- This delusion will affect everyone who is not a true born-again believer.

- Those under this delusion will eagerly and willingly take the mark of the Beast and even worship him and his image.

- Christians will be persecuted and martyred by those who believe they are actually doing what is right in their eyes.

- Biblical history reveals a multitude of examples of God's righteous judgments against a wicked, rebellious and unrepentant individual, group, city, nation and world population.

- This delusion will help cement the position of the Antichrist as the head of the one world government and as mankind's "savior."

- This is just the precursor to their eventual defeat and eternal punishment.

Don't leave yourself open to this delusion. Repent and be forgiven! Believe and be saved!  

All scripture, unless otherwise noted, is quoted from the New American Standard Bible

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'Gay Christian' or 'Christian Fighting Same Sex Attraction?'

I was once asked by a friend why Christians focus so much on the LGBT+ community when there are so many other types of sin out there in the world on which we can focus. The truth is, the LGBT+ community is so loud, publicly perverse, and unrelenting when calling for the disfiguring the bodies and interfering with the puberty of the young, that Christians can't help but focus their attention on them more sharply. For me, I'll call out a liar, an adulterer, a thief, etc... Sin is sin. If you're professing to be a born again believer and you're openly committing sin in view of everyone, I'll call you out on it. I don't like doing it, because it's lost me friends and family, but I won't sit by and say nothing. To say nothing is to agree with them in their sin.

Let's just look at the label, “gay Christian.” What word comes first? Using the word "gay" first, makes their sexual identity more important than their “Christian” identity. There is a difference between being a “gay Christian” and being a “Christian who struggles with same sex attraction.” One places the focus on 'self' and the other on 'Christ.' Some will say it's all semantics, but it's not.

I've seen Christians give up the fight and settle confidently into a gay relationship, boasting online and in public how satisfied they are in their new found freedom in Christ. How could that happen? How could someone who was fighting the good fight suddenly give up on what they once confessed was a sinful lifestyle? The answer is complicated. For some, it begins by doubting God and who He really is. For others, it begins by questioning God's word. It begins by imagining what it would be like to stop fighting a battle that's taken so much effort to wage, making them feel weary, weak and mentally exhausted. It begins by wanting to come out of the shadows and finally reveal a secret that they have tried so hard to keep hidden from everyone for so many years.

You see, during this time, the enemy is interfering with their thought process. He's trying to steer them into a “Garden of Eden” moment when they will listen to his subtle lies mixed with truth, a twist of scripture, a moment of doubt, a promise of something better. Eventually, the individual begins to believe the lies. Maybe God made them this way and this is the lifestyle God chose for them. Maybe those scriptures they stood on in the battle with the enemy don't really mean what Christians say they mean. Christ never specifically spoke out against homosexuality. John and Jesus loved each other. The scriptures in the OT that forbade homosexuality are law, and we are no longer under the law. Love is love, right? So it doesn't matter who you're with, as long as you love them.

They forget that the enemy is the father of lies. He's been a liar from the beginning of time and he continues to lie. For the Christian who fights same sex attraction, a twist of scripture, a change of view, and the promise of ending the battle is so tempting, but as we know, it's also a path to destruction. God doesn't just call homosexuality a sin, He calls it an “abomination.”

When born again believers begin to embrace the gay lifestyle, their god is no longer the God of the bible, but a false god; a god they've created who resembles the one true God, but is, in fact, a counterfeit. The god they create is a god who accepts their lifestyle as ordained by him; a lifestyle that they see as blessed, not sinful. Their lives are no longer lead by the Holy Spirit, but by self. They dismiss conviction, quenching the Spirit, attempting to smother His voice while turning up the volume on the voice that keeps assuring them that they are going in the right direction. Many of their decisions (spiritual, educational, political, financial, etc...) now become based on their new moral code and on what would be beneficial in promoting and/or normalizing their chosen lifestyle instead of what Jesus would command they should do.

How we identify ourselves is important because it sets the stage for the decisions we make in the present, which will affect our future. Are you defined by who you are in the world or who you are in Christ? Are you a 'gay Christian' or are you a 'Christian battling same sex attraction?' Will you continue to fight the good fight and endure to the end?

Don't let your same sex struggle define who you are. Put Jesus first and remind yourself often that there is a reward waiting for you when you complete this race. The fight may be difficult and you may feel you're living a life that is contrary to what your sexual attraction may be, but God will either deliver you from those desires or give you the strength every day to endure. The most important thing to do is to keep Jesus at the center of your life, the center of your attention and affection. Read His word. Talk with Him and open your heart to Him. Having same sex attraction isn't sinful. Acting upon those desires is. I encourage you to be strong in the Lord!!!

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The Burial and Resurrection

As we discovered in my previous article, “The Beating, The Whipping And The Crucifixion,” the injuries Jesus suffered most assuredly led to His death. From His death, we move to His burial and resurrection.

THE BURIAL

Day 1 – Jesus died at approximately 3PM. The Sabbath was quickly approaching and His body needed to be buried before sunset (Deut. 21:22-23 / Gal 3:13). Everyone had to move quickly. Joseph of Aramathea sought and received permission from Pilate to claim Jesus’ body. The nails used to pin Jesus hands and feet to the roughly hewn cross, the Roman’s execution device, were removed so that Jesus could be freed. His limp and lifeless body was quickly carried to the tomb that Joseph of Aramathea had originally built to house his own body. The tomb was located among the gardens, close by the site of Jesus’ execution (Jn. 19:41-42).

The act of ensuring a proper burial was regarded as one of the greatest acts of benevolence one could bestow upon another. Great care was taken when preparing a body for burial, but there was barely enough time to provide such care for Jesus. They had to move quickly!

It was customary in Jesus’ time to use great quantities of spices for embalming the dead, especially for those held in high esteem. Joseph of Aramathea and Nicodemus brought with them about 100 pounds of aloe and myrrh.

“In preparing a body for burial according to Jewish custom, it was usually washed and straightened, and then bandaged tightly from the armpits to the ankles in strips of linen a foot wide. Aromatic spices, often of a gummy consistency, were placed between the wrappings or folds. They served partially as a preservative and partially as a cement to glue the cloth wrappings into a solid covering…” Tenney, Merrel C., The Reality of the Resurrection, Chicago: Moody Press, 1963.

After wrapping Jesus’ body, Joseph and Nicodemus left the tomb. The stone was rolled over the entrance, leaving Jesus’ body to lie alone in the dark.

Day 2 – It was the Sabbath and the chief priests and Pharisees weren’t done with Jesus just yet. They went before Pilate to request that guards be placed at the tomb. They told Pilate that Jesus had declared He would rise from the dead in three days and the chief priests and Pharisees didn’t want Jesus’ followers to steal His body and then falsely claim that He had risen. Pilate granted their request.

The chief priests and the Pharisees headed to the tomb, taking with them a few Roman soldiers. At the tomb, the chief priests and the Pharisees “sealed” the tomb (most likely using clay, in order to leave their mark by pressing their signet rings into it). This, of course, would have been done in the presence of the Roman soldiers. Why? The soldiers were posted to make sure the disciples didn’t gain access to the tomb and the seal was used to ensure that there would be no collusion between the Roman soldiers and the disciples. If the seal was broken, both the disciples and the soldiers would be held responsible.

Throughout that day and throughout the long, chilly night, Jesus’ body lay in the tomb as the guards stood watch just outside the entrance.

Day 3 – Jesus’ lifeless body remains in the sealed tomb. The guards have kept watch all night. No one has approached the tomb. Sunrise was moments away.

THE RESURRECTION

It was the beginning of a new week. While it was still dark, Mary Magdeline and Mary the mother of James and Salome gathered the spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus’ body. They made their way to the tomb in the early morning light. As they fought off the chill of that early hour, they wondered if they would be able to find help to move the stone from the entrance of the tomb.

At the tomb, the guards kept watch. Without warning, the earth trembled and then shook. The earth quaked as an angel of the Lord descended. The guards stood in astonishment as the angel, by himself, easily rolled the stone away from the entrance of the tomb, breaking the seal. This angel, whose had the “appearance of lightening” and who had clothing “as white as snow,” then took a seat on the top of the stone. The Roman soldiers, seeing this mind-boggling site, either passed out or were slain in the spirit, almost mimicking the incident that occurred in the garden of Gethsemane just days before (Jn. 18:4-6).

Since there is no mention in the Gospels about the women noticing the Roman soldiers on the ground, it can be assumed that they had quickly recovered as those at Gethsemane had and had fled the scene by the time the women arrived. The guards went to the chief priests and reported all that they had seen. After the chief priests discussed the matter, it was decided that the guards would say that they fell asleep at their post and that the disciples had come during the night and stolen away the body of Jesus. The guards were also told that if the news of the incident reached the ears of the governor, then the religious leaders would take care of the matter and the guards would not suffer punishment. Unfortunately, the guards agreed to participate in this deception.

When the women arrived at the tomb, the angel was still sitting atop the stone. He told them not to fear; that Jesus had risen from the dead. He instructed them to tell the disciples and Peter about Jesus’ resurrection and to let the disciples and Peter know that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. The women, at the angel’s prompting, entered the tomb where they found three angels. One was sitting on the right side of where Jesus had been laying. The other two were standing beside the women. The women fell with their faces to the ground in fear of the Lord at the glorious appearance of the angels. The angels repeated what the first angel had told them and revealed some of the prophecies that Jesus had to fulfill with His suffering and death. As the women left the tomb, they were filled with fear and joy.

The women ran from the tomb. Mary delivered the message to the disciples and to Peter. Peter and James raced to the tomb. James got there first and just peered in. He saw the linen clothes lying where Jesus’ body had been. Peter, upon his arrival, went into the tomb. He, too, saw the empty linen clothes. They both noticed, folded and placed by itself, the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. (This may be a good place to note that as I understand it, in Jewish custom, when a guest folded their napkin at the table and left, it meant that they were returning to finish their meal. Could the folding of the face cloth be seen as a message from Jesus that He would be back?) The disciples left the tomb.

Later Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples. He even encouraged poor doubting Thomas to examine the wounds to His hands, feet and side so that he would be convinced that Jesus had truly risen from the dead. After forty days, Jesus gathered His disciples and was lifted up into the sky on a cloud until He had disappeared from their sight. Two angels appeared, standing beside them, and told them that Jesus would come back in the same manner in which He left.

DID JESUS DIE?

Now some may claim that Jesus never died, that somehow He managed to survive the beatings, the whipping and the crucifixion. Of course, this is nonsense. If He had survived, surely the disciples, Joseph of Aramathea, Nicodemus or one of the Roman soldiers witnessing His execution or removing Him from the cross would have noticed (Romans were experts in death). Even if Jesus had some small spark of life left in Him, remember that He was mortally wounded. Could He really survive all that time in a cold tomb with no medical attention for His injuries? Surely He would have died from shock, exposure, dehydration or blood loss. No. Jesus was dead.

SOMEONE STOLE HIS BODY

Could the disciples or some of His other followers have stolen His body? That’s highly unlikely and here’s why:

• His resurrection was still a mystery to the disciples at that time. That’s why they were grieving His death. They had not yet comprehended what he meant when He said that He would rise again.

• If the disciples or some of Jesus’ other followers had stolen His body, would they take valuable time trying to carefully remove the tight wrappings in one piece like a cocoon (which would have been very difficult because it would have been stuck to his body with the gummy spices that had been applied) or to carefully fold the linen cloth that covered His face? Wouldn’t they have taken Him, linen and all, so that they could spend as little time at the scene of the crime as possible?

• Could they have arrived, moved the stone and stolen Jesus’ body without making a sound or being seen by the guard?

• The official story that the Jewish leaders spread was that the guards said that they had fallen asleep and that Jesus’ disciples stole the body. Question: If they were asleep, how would that know who stole the body? The bible states that the Roman guards saw and reported what really happened and that they were bribed by the Jewish leaders to change their story.

• The chief priests and Pharisees did not go out to inspect the tomb. Their lack of concern for viewing the scene of the crime screams cover-up.

• Breaking the seal on the rock in front of the tomb was a punishable offense. None of the disciples were ever charged with such an offence.

• The Roman soldiers couldn’t have been in collusion with Jesus. Not only was their allegiance sworn to Caesar, Jesus (if He was just a man) could not have possibly known which guards would have been chosen to guard the tomb.

There is always the possibility that Jesus was never placed in the tomb to begin with, but that isn’t possible either. There would have been too many witnesses to His burial to try a stunt like that. If the chief priests and Pharisees weren’t sure of His presence in the tomb, then they never would have sealed the tomb and posted the guard. Groups, both for and against Jesus, witnessed His burial, we can be confident of that. He was a high profile and very controversial person. We can be sure that a crowd was at His execution and burial, including the chief priests and Pharisees.

So, if Jesus did not survive the crucifixion, if He wasn’t taken by His disciples or other followers under the cover of darkness, if He was in fact placed in the tomb on the first day and then sealed in by the chief priests and Pharisees, then what is the alternative?

“What does the critical historian do when the evidence points very strongly to the reality of an event which contradicts his expectations and goes against the naturalistic view of reality? I submit that he must follow his critically analyzed sources. It is unscientific to begin with the philosophical presupposition that miracles cannot occur. Unless we avoid such one-sided presuppositions, historical interpretation becomes mere propaganda. We have a right to demand good evidence for an alleged event which we have not experienced, but we dare not judge reality by our limited experience.” (Ronald Sider, A Case for Easter, HIS magazine, April 1972)

“We have no right to begin with the presupposition that Jesus can be no more than a man. For then, obviously, our conclusions may simply reflect our preconceptions instead of representing the actual content of the documents. We must, in other words, objectively try to discover the picture Jesus and his contemporaries had of him, whether we agree with it or not. The question of us is not whether Jesus is pictured as a man. Virtually no one today would question this, for the records tell us that he was hungry and tired, that he wept, that he suffered and died, in short, that he was human.

The question we face today is whether he was depicted as no more than a man.” (John Warwick Montgomery, History and Christianity, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1971)

Could He be who the scriptures say He is? We'll take a look at the validity of scripture in my next article.

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The Beating, The Whipping, And The Crucifixion

This article was written with the expectation that readers, like yourself, have more or less come to the conclusion that Jesus is an actual historical figure and that your study of the Bible, the writings of other Christian authors, or the writings of secular scholars, historians and/or philosophers have convinced you of this. You are not alone. The majority of secular historians no longer argue this point. They, too, believe that Jesus was a real man who lived approximately 2,000 years ago. It is also becoming clear that the Bible can be relied upon as being accurate and reliable. More about that in a future article.

This article briefly describes the physical torture that Jesus endured from the moment of His betrayal to His death on the cross. Whether Jesus was just a man or was fully man and fully God is a personal decision that everyone needs to make for themselves. This is just one of a series of articles that will culminate in one or two articles that will bring all of this information together.

THE BEATING

Jesus had been betrayed (Ps. 41:9/Mt. 26:20-25). Judas singled Jesus out with a kiss on His cheek. And the price? Judas carried with him the 30 pieces of silver that had already been paid to him for his betrayal (Zech. 11:12/Mt. 26:15). Approaching were some of the chief priests, temple officers and elders. They arrested Jesus, which caused his disciples to flee into the darkness of the night out of fear that they, too, would be arrested.

Jesus was bound and brought before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. While being questioned, Jesus was slapped in His face for what they deemed a disrespectful response. This would be the first strike of many. Jesus was then brought before Caiaphas, the chief priests and the elders. As they proceeded, false witnesses were called forward to make known their accusations. Jesus was eventually declared guilty of blasphemy because He dared call Himself the Son of God. Those in attendance covered His face, spit on Him, struck Him, slapped Him and mocked Him. Even the guards beat Him (Isa. 50:6/Mt. 26:67-68).

Following this physical assault, Jesus was taken to Pilate, who spoke with Him. After refusing to respond to any of the charges made against Him by the Jewish leaders (Isa. 53:7/Mt. 27:12-14), Pilate sends Jesus to Herod questions Jesus as well, but again Jesus does not respond to the charges made against him (Isa. 53:7/Lk. 23:8-10). Herod and his men treat Jesus with contempt, mocking Him as they dressed Him up in fine clothing, like royalty. Jesus is then sent back to Pilate dressed in that manner.

Pilate is amused with Herod’s display of mockery. Their shared contempt of Jesus causes an instant bond of friendship between the two of them (Luke 23:12).

Pilate, since he could find no reason to give Jesus the death sentence, assumed that a severe whipping would be sufficient to placate the Jewish leaders, so Jesus is handed over to the guards, a full battalion, who gather together for what they consider the day’s entertainment.

One soldier fashions a crown of thorns and presses it into the flesh on Jesus’ head. They then strip Jesus and clothe Him in a scarlet robe. They put a reed, like a scepter, in His right hand. Then they begin saluting and bowing to Him, laughing and yelling, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

They blindfold Him, spit on Him and continue to mock Him. Then they begin beating Him with their fists. The Roman soldiers do their job well as they pummel Jesus (Isa 50:6/Mt. 26:67-68). Once they have had their fill of fun, they remove the scarlet robe that they had put on Him to mock Him, and they dress Him in His own clothing. After experiencing two physical assaults, being beaten about the head, face and body, Jesus is about to experience a more severe punishment.

THE WHIPPING

Sore and bleeding, His face swollen and bruised practically beyond all recognition, Jesus was bound to a pole or a stump. The whipping that Jesus was about to endure was more than just a few strikes with a leather whip. It was a brutal act meant to cause serious bodily harm and severe pain.

The instrument of punishment used by the Romans to scourge their victims was called a flagrum. Attached to the leather straps were pieces of sharp bone and metal, which would tear into and lacerate human flesh. It was created to do damage!

“…veins were laid bare, and… the very muscles, sinews and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.” (Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, 3rd century historian)

Although Jewish law limited the number of lashings a person could receive, the Romans did not have such limitations. The victim was at the mercy of his punisher, however long he chose to extend the punishment.

The severe wounds Jesus received would never have time to close or to heal, because Jesus was never allowed to rest or recuperate. Shortly after they whipped Him, He was on the move again, being brought before Pilate and before the crowd. Then the judgment… “Crucify Him!” Wounds still fresh and being forced open as he moved, he was led away.

Jesus, being led through the streets to His execution, managed to carry the cross, but not for long. The blood loss and the physical damage to his body from the beatings, the whipping and the lack of food and water brought Him to the point of near death. Another man, Simon of Cyrene, was forced to carry the cross that Jesus was too weak to carry. All this torture was a prelude to the horror that was about to unfold.

THE CRUCIFIXION

The Romans weren't unfamiliar with crucifixions or death. They were experts at both. The suffering endured on the cross was intense and severe. In Jerusalem, it began with carrying your own torture device, the cross, through the streets, out of the city and up a hill. Jesus, drained of blood and strength, could not manage this task for long. As I already mentioned above, that task was forced upon another.

At the crucifixion site, Jesus would have been stripped naked, the fabric of his clothing brushing over His open wounds causing Him additional pain. He would have then been laid on top of the cross, the wood pressed against the inflamed and swollen lacerations, causing fresh blood to seep from them.

Then the huge nails, driven into his hands and feet, brought the new pain of metal puncturing flesh, causing wounds that expel even more of His precious blood (Ps. 22:16/Lk. 23:33). Bleeding from His head, His body and the new wounds to His hands and feet, He’s lifted up until the cross is vertical and His body is displayed for all to see.

There He hangs, a man barely recognizable as human. His face disfigured from the beatings and His body torn apart (Isa. 52:14). Behind the scenes, the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing. (Psalm 22:18/John 19:23-24) On either side of Him hangs a thief, crucified for their crimes (Isa. 53:12/Mt. 27:38).

Suffocation, dizziness, cramping, thirst, hunger, shame of His nakedness, blood loss, raw exposed nerves… all endured by Him. Eventual death on the cross was inevitable, but His injuries and dehydration would quicken the process. Every breath was painful and laborious and He would need to use His legs to lift Himself up for every breath He took. Eventually, the loss of blood, the torture and anxiety He suffered eventually becomes too much for His human body to withstand. The centurion, standing in front of the cross, watched Jesus take His last breath. Jesus dies of what can be described as a *cardiac rupture (Ps. 22:14/Jn. 19:34)

Jesus hung from the cross, His life drained from Him. The Sabbath was quickly approaching. It was already the 9th hour (3:00 PM) and Jewish law demanded that He be buried before the Sabbath began. The Romans, seeing that Jesus was already dead, did not break His legs, but instead thrust a spear into his right side (Isa. 53:5, Zech. 12:10/Jn. 19:34), which caused blood and water to flow. The Romans, masters of death, recognized a dead man when they saw one. Pilate sent a guard to the crucifixion site to double check whether or not Jesus was truly dead. Pilate then released Jesus’ body to Joseph of Arimathea.

*An article in JAMA concluded from the Gospel accounts that Jesus certainly had died before He was removed from the cross: “clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the wound to His side was inflicted and supports the traditional view that the spear, thrust between His right ribs, probably perforated not only the right lung, but also the pericardium and heart and thereby ensured His death. Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at odds with modern medical knowledge.” (Edwards, PDJC 1463)

*Samuel Houghton, M.D., the great physiologist from the University of Dublin, relates his view on the physical cause of Christ’s death: “When the soldier pierced with his spear the side of Christ, He was already dead; and the flow of blood and water that followed was either a natural phenomenon explicable by natural causes or it was a miracle… Death by crucifixion causes a condition of blood in the lungs similar to that produced by drowning… A copious flow of blood, succeeded by a copious flow of water… would occur in a crucified person, who had died upon the cross from rupture of the heart… there remains, therefore, no supposition possible to explain the recorded phenomenon except the combination of the crucifixion and rupture of the heart.”

Part two of this series can be found by clicking HERE.

This article will be updated with more scriptural references and links to additional information as time permits.

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