"The Distractions At Easter”

during Easter is to claim the resurrection of Christ was a hoax.”

Charles Colson said: “Don't hold your breath, Some, like the Pharisees created a distraction by paying soldiers to say the disciples came at night and stole the body of Jesus. Through the centuries others have written books: “The Da Vinci Code”; proposing that the beaten body of Jesus swooned in the cool tomb of stone only to awaken, then marry his sweetheart, Mary Magdalene, and move to France and start a family.

The men and women who witnessed the death of Jesus; The Roman soldier who put a spear into the heart of Jesus testified that Jesus was dead; those who wrapped his breathless body with a linen shroud; those who rolled the stone to close the entrance to the tomb, knew it was watched and sealed by Roman guards. Everyone knew that Jesus was dead and buried.

Listen to the words the angel spoke to the same women who wrapped the broken and dead body of Jesus in a linen shroud. “I know you are seeking Jesus, who was crucified, He is not here, He has risen”. “Go and tell his disciples.” He is risen! He is risen indeed.

To accept the words of the angel, spoken to these women in the shallows of early morning, or deny the words of the angel is always a choice. To deny the words of the disciples who with their own eyes saw and touched the visible resurrected body of Jesus in the shuttered “Upper Room” is always a choice.

In his devotion Charles Colson wrote: “How do I know the disciples are telling the truth? How do I know they are not perpetrating a hoax”.

This was his answer. “I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. This is how I know.

Twelve men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they

proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true.

Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”

Only the resurrected glorified body of Jesus, risen from the chains of death can provide eternal peace for your soul. Jesus is the truth, the whole truth, the only truth.

The Roman guards knew what their eyes saw. Money was to cause a distraction.

Intuitively you know human death can not destroy your soul. The real you, the soul God gave you at your conception never dies. Only faith in the resurrection of Jesus opens the door to eternal life.

If, on this morning, you chose to deny the resurrection then I understand the never ending tears, that fall like rain, when you stand at the foot of an open oak casket.

On this Easter I know the words of the angel to be true. ‘Because Jesus lives I can face tomorrow, no matter the fear of cancer, nor the virus that stalks the streets where I live. Because Jesus rose from the grave with a glorified resurrected body, I know that one day when Jesus returns I too shall possess a resurrected glorified body fashioned like His. (Philippians 2:20-21)

Do not let the distraction cause you to miss the grestest good news. He is risen! He is risen indeed. Amen.