PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION - 15 December

***  I have been thinking on relative value and comparison  between we humans and the Lord Almighty God! This account goes to show how even when we know the absolute truth - we can choose to not accept it or not believe!

If you were able to place mankind on a scale of from 0 to 100 with The Lord God being the only perfect 100  - humans would not even rank!
- not even a sub zero!   But do not let this fact distort or dismay you because if you were 100% honest and open minded you will see that there is not any other possible comparison in the Universe!  That is why we need a Savior  as in the form of Jesus Christ - Yeshua...
There is not any other rational answer  -  have you got it??

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Matthew 28:11

"Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done."

In the Jews' efforts to prevent anything from happening that would cause people to believe that Jesus was resurrected, they gave one of the most sure proofs of His resurrection. They sealed the tomb so it would be obvious if it had been opened and they obtained a guard of soldiers to protect it.

This removes all doubt that the followers of Jesus could have stolen His body. Therefore, the enemies of Jesus became a historical witness that Jesus literally rose from the dead.

The guards told the chief priests everything that happened at the tomb.
This means that they had a complete account of the earthquake, the angels rolling away the stone, and the angels giving the message to the women that Jesus was alive from the dead. They may have even seen Jesus walk out of the tomb. {Proof Positive!}

Yet the very ones that the Jews had secured to guarantee there would be no rumors of Jesus being raised from the dead, became the first witnesses and heralds of the resurrection.

 Yet, with the testimony of impartial, non-religious eyewitnesses, they chose not to believe (Lk. 16:31).
" And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. "

** Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Luke 16:19-31 Here the spiritual things are represented, in a description of the different state of good and bad, in this world and in the other. We are not told that the rich man got his estate by fraud, or oppression; but Christ shows, that a man may have a great deal of the wealth, pomp, and pleasure of this world, yet perish for ever under God's wrath and curse.

 The sin of this rich man was his providing for himself only. Here is a godly man, and one that will hereafter be happy for ever, in the depth of adversity and distress. It is often the lot of some of the dearest of God's saints and servants to be greatly afflicted in this world. We are not told that the rich man did him any harm, but we do not find that he had any care for him. Here is the different condition of this godly poor man, and this wicked rich man, at and after death. 

The rich man in hell lifted up his eyes, being in torment. It is not probable that there are discourses between glorified saints and damned sinners, but this dialogue shows the hopeless misery and fruitless desires, to which condemned spirits are brought. There is a day coming, when those who now hate and despise the people of God, would gladly receive kindness from them. But the damned in hell shall not have the least abatement of their torment.

 Sinners are now called upon to remember; but they do not, they will not, they find ways to avoid it. As wicked people have good things only in this life, and at death are for ever separated from all good, so godly people have evil things only in this life, and at death they are for ever put from them. In this world, blessed be God, there is no gulf between a state of nature and grace, we may pass from sin to God; but if we die in our sins, there is no coming out.

 The rich man had five brethren, and would have them stopped in their sinful course; their coming to that place of torment, would make his misery the worse, who had helped to show them the way thither. How many would now desire to recall or to undo what they have written or done! Those who would make the rich man's praying to Abraham justify praying to saints departed, go far to seek for proofs, when the mistake of a damned sinner is all they can find for an example. And surely there is no encouragement to follow the example, when all his prayers were made in vain. 

A messenger from the dead could say no more than what is said in the Scriptures. The same strength of corruption that breaks through the convictions of the written word, would triumph over a witness from the dead. Let us seek to the law and to the testimony, Isa 8:19,20, for that is the sure word of prophecy, upon which we may rest, 2Pe 1:19. 

Circumstances in every age show that no terrors, or arguments, can give true repentance without the special grace of God renewing the sinner's heart.