Risen

Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Corinthians 4: 9-10 NKJV

It must have been seen as quite a shock to many a Jewish authority back in the day.  This man, this Jesus of Nazareth who had been such a thorn in the sides of the Jewish leaders for so long had now been put to death by the Romans.  Of course, the Jewish leaders who so hated Jesus had assisted in His crucifiction.  For all intents and purposes, their antagonist was now dead.  This man, this Son of God, this King of the Jews, was dead.  For it had been Jesus' outlandish claims that He was the Son of the living God which had landed Him on the most wanted list of these men of Jewish authority.  There are more than a few references in scripture of Jesus' battle with the Pharisees and scribes.  Although the Jewish scriptures told of the coming Messiah, the very savior of the Jewish people, they scoffed at the very idea that this man Jesus was the one intended to be Him.  Their vision of the Lords Messiah was one who would deliver His people from the hated Romans.  This Jesus who preached love, kindness and mercy could not be Him, or could He?  No matter, for Jesus was now dead on a Roman cross.  Now, the Jewish leaders could get back to the business of burdening the people and awaiting the coming Messiah.  But then something happened after the tomb of Jesus had been sealed.  People begin talking of seeing Him in different places after His death!  How could this be?  If you were a Jewish authority back in the day you had to be wondering just what kind of hoax was being played out here.  You had witnessed the execution of Jesus, and yet now you were hearing of His being seen alive!  Something wasn't right.

I have seen two things which cannot reconcile.  A man dead without question, and that same man alive agian.  I seek Him, the Nazarene, to feret the truth.
~Clavius~

Oddly enough, there are still sections of Jewish society even today who still await the arrival of the Lords Messiah.  Ignoring all scriptural reference to the contrary, they cling to the belief that somehow there is still one who will deliver His people.  My question would be, deliver them from what?  I can see the Jews of Jesus' day seeking deliverance from the Romans, but today?  Of course, we who follow Jesus know in our hearts that Jesus has already been raised from the dead and ascended into heaven.  However, this is where the story ends for most people.  For Jesus' final destination was heaven, and this is where He resides today, watching down on we who follow Him.  Imagine my shock when I learned something to the contrary of this belief.  For Jesus not only resides in heaven, but WITHIN US!  Like those Jewish authorities of old, many refuse to accept scripture that Jesus not only died on that cross to wash away our sins, but rose again three days later to become a part of the bodies of those who believe in Him.  Why is this so hard to believe?  Why was it so hard to believe that He had risen?  The evidence of Gods word had fortold both occurances.  I admit, I was skeptical upon first hearing of the indwelling Jesus in my life.  And yet, I now believe this to be true.  This "Mystery among the Gentiles" which Paul spoke of {Colossions 1:27} is the Son of the living God residing within us.  As Paul states in 2 Corinthians, Jesus may now be manifested in the mortal flesh of we who believe.  How much closer to Jesus can one get?

~Scott~