Strange Events Of Jesus

5Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7“saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”8And they remembered His words.
Luke 24: 5 - 8 NKJV

Imagine that you were a common citizen of Jerusalem walking donw the road morning minding your own business when all of a sudden you're confronted by a stranger who asks if you're aware of the recent happenings in the city.  Now, if you were not all that familiar with goings on around the contryside, you might not be aware of current events.  However,  with the mere mention of the name Jesus and you might stop and pay attention.  Indeed, for the events in the life of the man Jesus had been big news in the region for some time now.  There's been talk of various miracles and talk of Jesus being someone special.  Some called this man a prophet while others placed their trust in Him that He was, as He claimed, the Son of God.  For even if you had never had the opportunity to see Him for yourself, you've heard the stories which circulated around the countryside.  The lame had been healed, the blind now see and...the dead were risen.  Just who was this man Jesus?  Perhaps you'd wondered for yourself from time to time as you heard of His teachings and exploits.  Jesus had definately caused quite a comotion in this region.  Unless you had been out of the country or wandering in the hills for the past few years you probably had heard of His travels.  You had more questions than answers it seems.  Who was Jesus?  What was His message?  Who were these men who always seemed to follow Him wherever He traveled?  For some reason, the local priests, Pharisees and authorities have been more than willing to call for His detention.  What was it that Jesus had done to deserve such hatred?  You may have wanted to see Him to find out for yourself.  That thought had indeed crossed your mind.  Now, on this bright morning as you traveled to the city of Jerusalem...something seemed different.

24When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a ctumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this djust Person. You see to it.” 25And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” 26Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had escourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
Matthew 27: 24 - 26 NKJV

Indeed, the events surrounding Jerusalem over those past few days were enough to make many stand and take notice.  Jesus had taken this city by storm.  This man who preached love and forgiveness was suddenly the main topic of conversation.  For some time the Jewish people had been anxiously expecting their messiah whom the prophets had foretold would be the savior of His people.  Was Jesus this messiah?  There were those who indeed claimed that He was.  However, there were also many who viewed Him more as a rabble rouser among the people than any kind of prophet.  One thing was certain, wherever this man Jesus went controversy seemed to follow Him.  Still, you wanted to meet Him for yourself.  Perhaps this is why you walked the road to Jersulam on this morning, in hopes of finaly being able to meet this man claimed to be the Son of God.  How could a mere man be the Son of God?  Perhaps if you met Him these questions would be answered.  And so on you went into Jerusalem.  However, more and more you would come across those who were in great disbelief over the man Jesus.  It seems that you had been too late to travel into Jersulam, for He had been put to death three days before by the hated Romans.  Well, the Romans and the chief priests.  What was His crime?  Had not Pilate, the Roman governor, found Him guilty of nothing?  However, instead of releasing Him, he turned Him over to the Jewish officials and to be crucified.  The death of a innocent man?  All of this seemed too much to take in.  These were indeed strange events.  Then, amidst the commotion of the recent events in the city came a new revelation.  A new buzz now raced through the city.  For the tomb had been found to be empty this very morning!  There were even rumors that this man who had been crucified three days earlier had now been seen by some of those close to Him!  It all seemed so strange.  Every so often you would hear the shout..."He is risen!"  What did this all mean?

~Scott~