Jesus’ Resurrection was Bodily

John 20:19-29

Larry King, the CNN talk show host, was once asked who he would most want to interview if he could choose anyone from all of history. He said, ‘Jesus Christ.’ The questioner said, ‘And what would you like to ask Him?’ King replied, “I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me’.” I pray that Larry King will find the answer to that question from the Word of God which is where he can interview our Lord Jesus Christ right now today and he will find the answer to that question to be yes and it would not only define history for him, but he could receive life form our Lord and have all of eternity defined for him. The unbeliever outside the visible church and the many unbelievers inside the visible church have been stumped by the beginning of our Lord’s earthly life and the end of our Lord Jesus’ earthly life for 2,000 years now. Of course the finite mind of man cannot understand the virgin birth or the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but if a soul does not by faith accept both of these two events as true and factual as God has laid them out for us in His Word then there is no sacrifice for that souls sin and he will have to bear his own sin before a Holy and Righteous God.

Larry King is not alone in his skepticism for many Americans do not believe that after they die their bodies will be resurrected to stand before God to be judged. The most recent poll taken on this subject matter of the human body being resurrected was conducted in 2006. The poll was taken by two reporters Thomas Hargrove and Guido H. Stempel IIII. Their findings were as follows: “Only 36 percent of the 1,007 adults interviewed a month ago by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University said “yes” to the question: “Do you believe that, after you die, your physical body will be resurrected someday?” Fifty-four percent said they do not believe and 10 percent were undecided.”

The idea of our Lord Jesus Christ being unique scares most of humanity because if His beginning and His end was different from any other man, then surely He was and is not just Man but the unique God-Man and the only hope of heaven for every soul. This truth shatters every other form of religion and spirituality and exposes them for what they really are nothing more than man-made religions or satanic lies that has and is and will in the future lead many souls to hell. The denial of every person’s body being raised and that our Lord Jesus Christ was raised bodily from the tomb is not merely something that comes from outside the visible church, but it comes from inside many visible local churches and denominations. Retired Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong is such a man that does not believe Jesus Christ rose from the grave bodily. This man wrote the Book entitled “Resurrection: Myth or Reality” on the subject that has been read by many people no doubt. Marcus Borg is another denier of Christ bodily resurrection and he is an American New Testament scholar, theologian and author who also was a Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University.

These are just two men of many men and women that have the Holy Scripture in hand and yet failed to do what Paul exhorted young Timothy when he said, 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” NKJV This is so crucial in the life of every person that claims to know Jesus Christ and when one does not rightly divide The Word of Truth it can lead them and many others down a path which is the wide broad way that leads those souls to destruction/hell. The Apostle Paul affirms that one cannot even be saved unless they believe this in their hearts/inner man as he so clearly states here, Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” NKJV

In this Chapter 20 of John’s gospel, we find all of the Apostles perplexed and fearful after our Lord’s death. These men walked with Him for 3 ½ years but they too were unbelieving when Mary Magdalene first approached them with the news that she had seen our Lord and spoke with Him and touched Him (Luke 24:11). But then later that same day our Lord shows up in the room where they were hiding from the Jewish rulers (fearing their own death) and said to them, John 20:19 “Peace be with you” and then He showed them His hands and His side (John 20:20). I ask myself over and over how could someone have this Word from our Lord’s mouth and still deny His bodily resurrection. What further proof does one need? Well, our Lord knew the hearts of men and He would give one of the Apostles (Thomas who refused to believe the words of the others) even more concrete evidence of His bodily resurrection when He said to him, John 20:27 “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” and Thomas was overwhelmed with awe and he was humiliated by denying and surely wept out these words, John 20:28 “My Lord and my God!” Surely Thomas did not reach his finger into the hand of a Spirit or the side of a Spirit but into the resurrected Glorified body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:3 “To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” NKJV

“Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils, and the resurrection, of all his joys.” James H. Aughey

“Let us consider this settled, that no one has made progress in the school of Christ who does not joyfully await the day of death and final resurrection.” John Calvin

“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.” Martin Luther

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

 

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…