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Just a box of BonesBy Ken HallRead 1 Cor.15:17-29Did you see the story on network news touting an amazing find in Jerusalem? It alleged that an archeologist uncovered a box of bones. His claim is that the inscription on the box says the bones belonged to Jesus, His wife - Mary Magdalene, and their child. It's interesting this story was released as the time Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ in a special way approaches. Some Christians are upset by this discovery. Many non-Christians are rejoicing. Is this an earth-shattering discovery or is it just a box of bones? I know why people want to discredit the Resurrection. Without the bodily resurrection of Christ from the grave there can be no legitimate Christianity. The Bible says, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins...If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Cor.15:17-29) No Resurrection means no Christianity and no hope in the life to come. All the great movers and shakers of human thought experienced death. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Marx - changed the way people thought. All of them died and you can go visit the place where their remains are buried. It is true that Jesus Christ died and was buried just like all other people. But unlike all the others He is alive today! The tomb couldn't hold Him. On the third day He rose from the dead. His resurrection proved He was who He claimed to be - God the Son. My belief in Christ's resurrection is not a hope-so, leap-in-the-dark act of faith. It is one the best attested facts from antiquity. The first fact of evidence is the empty tomb. No one can explain the empty tomb reasonably apart from the Resurrection. The religious leaders of that time knew Jesus predicted that He would be raised from the dead three days after His death. They did everything they could to prevent that. A huge stone was placed over the opening of that tomb. Then the tomb was sealed with all the authority of the Roman government. The penalty for breaking that seal without the authority of the Romans was death. A squad of soldiers was posted at the tomb to ensure that the body stayed in the tomb. Before dawn on the third day, the stone was mysteriously rolled back. The seal was broken by a higher authority than the Roman government. The squad was so terrified they all fainted. Later that day, Peter and John came to the tomb and saw the yards of cloths used to wrap the body of Christ lying like the body had just passed through it. When John entered the empty tomb and saw that he believed Christ actually rose from the dead. (John 20:8) The disciples didn't believe Christ would actually be resurrected. If that isn't enough evidence, consider the testimony of the hundreds of witnesses who saw the resurrected Christ. Eyewitness accounts are accepted in any court of law, as long as, the witnesses are competent, of good reputation, and in agreement. In our law system it takes only one witness to establish murder. The charge of high treason takes two witnesses. Three witnesses are needed to execute a will. If the will is oral seven witnesses are required. Over a period of forty days, Christ appeared physically numerous times to hundreds of people (500 at one time), eating with them and inviting them to examine Him closely to remove any doubts about the authenticity of His resurrection. I could go into greater detail, but I don't have time now. The proof for the resurrection of Christ is solid. It is reasonable to accept the Resurrection as an actual event of history. So what did the archaeologist uncover? Just a box of bones. Whose bones? Certainly, not the bones of Christ. He still has His bones intact because He lives today! |
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