The Death Certificate Says It All
What a pleasant title for a blog entry for mid-morning October 27, 2021, The Death Certificate Says It All. What could I possibly mean by The Death Certificate Says It All? Christianity is based upon the absolute fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin on that first Christmas morn in Bethlehem. Christianity is based upon the absolute fact that Jesus lived a sinless life on this planet which made Him the acceptable sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The most significant piece of information that verifies that Jesus was the Son of God, born of a virgin, and sacrificed as the spotless Lamb is His Resurrection.
One of the greatest attacks on Christianity or one of the greatest doubts associated with Christianity is the Resurrection. I, believe, personally the doubt associated with the Resurrection can be traced to the day of the Resurrection itself and the Pharisees. The Pharisees constructed a lie that the disciples took the body, and the Pharisees even bribed witnesses to say the disciples broke into the tomb. I wonder how they explained moving that 2,000 pound rock that sealed the tomb? Interesting question, huh?
I am here to tell you Jesus Christ was resurrected. So, how do I know He was resurrected? One reason is that I accept the source material that proves His resurrection. What is the source material you might ask? Well, let me explain.
The Romans, who carried out the Crucifixion of Christ, were famous for keeping lots of written records. It was how they kept their large empire so organized. Have you ever heard of a story in the Bible where everyone had to return to their birthplace for a census? Do you know why they had to do that? So, the Romans could have accurate records. The Romans had records on every Roman citizen including things like age, marriages, and military service. They kept written records of wills, legal trials, deaths, births, and all the laws and decrees made by the government. This is incredibly important to the facts surrounding the Resurrection. Why? Well, for one thing to be placed in a tomb to be raised from the grave, you have to be dead first. That is where Roman record keeping comes in.
There is a passage of scripture that is probably often overlooked in its significance, but it is incredibly significant as to the Resurrection because it contains the official death certificate.
Luke 23: 50 - 53
50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
Do you see it? Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate asking for permission to claim the body of Jesus. It was Roman practice to leave the bodies of those crucified on the cross unburied for days to further their shame because it was considered shameful to leave a body unburied. Look at what Luke is saying. Joseph went to the Roman government to claim the body that was certified by the Roman government to be dead. Even in their lie, the Pharisees did not doubt the death of Jesus. They could not doubt it because He was certified dead by Rome. Jesus Christ died on that Cross, and the Romans certified Him to be dead, but, dear friend, that is not the end of the story.
The Death Certificate Says It All!
No one can, and be considered logical in their thinking, say that Jesus Christ did not die because, the Romans, the most accurate record keepers in history, certified His death as signified in Luke’s writing by Joseph asking Pilate for the body. If this were a court proceeding, the expert witnesses would have no other choice than to admit that Jesus was dead, and then….
With Christ being officially pronounced dead by the Romans, it becomes an issue for the court to determine the truth regarding the Resurrection. Do you believe the story concocted by the Pharisees who bribed the unnamed guards to spread their lie or do you believe the named witness to the Resurrection? What witnesses you may ask?
1 Corinthians 15 : 3 - 8
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me (Paul) also, as by one born out of due time.
At least 513 people saw the resurrected Christ as recorded in the most reliable source in history, the Bible, and dear friend, you can believe in the Resurrection because The Death Certificate Says It All. Jesus died, and as proof that He satisfied the debt that all men owe, God brought Him out of that tomb, and that is why you can trust Him as the way to Heaven.
Will you accept the lie of the Pharisees? Do you believe the Resurrection?
How you answer those questions makes all the difference, but make no mistake, The Death Certificate Says It All!