You were raised on the coast. You know commercial fishing. Your family and friends know commercial fishing. Some guy moves to town. He doesn’t fish. He builds. He teaches on Saturdays. You come in from a lousy night of fishing. He gets in your boat and teaches people lined along the shore. Then He tells you how to fish. You just cleaned your nets. He tells you cast them into the water. You do. You pull in the biggest catch ever.
This is no ordinary teacher. Days ago there was a demon-possessed man in the synagogue. He commanded the demon and it left him. Your mother-in-law was in bed with a severe fever. He scolded the fever. She got up and served her guests. Today he takes over your business and does what you could never do. You shut it down and follow Him…for three years, believing that he will be king of a self-governing Israel, reigning in righteousness. And then, in one day, he is arrested, tried, beaten to shreds crucified and buried.
You never question whether he really died. He was killed by soldiers whose business was to kill. When they saw that he was dead, they stabbed him in the heart just to make sure. You best friend saw it happen…so did several others. So did the religious leaders who buried him. Your hopes are shattered. And you are afraid they will get you next.
Next, you hear that his tomb is empty. You and your friend doubt it, but go check it out anyway. His body is gone, but not his grave wrappings. This could not be the wrong tomb. Those who wanted him dead would have pointed out the real tomb and His dead body.
Then Mary Magdalene says that He appeared to her. Then He appears to you. You tell other followers who are hiding, in fear of authorities behind locked doors. Then Cleopas and his friend arrive and say that they walked and talked with Him. Then, there He is in the room with nail-wounded hands and feet. In Galilee, he serves breakfast to seven of you. He teaches 500 of you. He tells you to wait in Jerusalem and ascends into the clouds before your eyes. You receive the Holy Ghost and resurrection boldness. You are convinced for life. You tell everyone you know about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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