The early church joyously announced Christ’s resurrection. It was believed that this miracle was a crucial component of the gospel message. Christ had indeed died, but more significantly, He had also been risen. Jesus is our alive Lord, not merely a suffering Savior.

These are some remarkable facts regarding Jesus’ resurrection that you may or may not know.

1. If Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead, then Christianity isn’t true.

The apostle Paul states the following in his first letter to the Corinthians:
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. (1 Cor. 15:14-15)

2. The resurrection was prophesied:

According to 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus rose from the dead as the Scriptures had previously prophesied. Isaiah said that Jesus would be cut off from the living and then brought back to prolonged life (Isaiah 53:8-10). Many Old Testament prophecies can only be understood now based on what we know today looking back historically. When Jesus began to speak of His death, those around Him were caught off guard as they were looking for a Messiah who would immediately take over leadership of their nation.

3. The rolled away stone was significant:

Jesus or the angels rolled away the stone of Jesus’ tomb not so He could get out, but so others could get in and see that the tomb was empty, testifying to the resurrection. The stone was around 2 tons and would have taken many strong men to move it. The tomb was also sealed off and watched by Roman guards so the idea that the disciples secretly came at night is hard to buy. If the tomb had not been empty, claims of the resurrection could not have been maintained even for a short period of time, knowing that people in Jerusalem could have gone to the tomb to look for themselves.

4. Women were the first witnesses to see Jesus after his resurrection.

The testimony of women was not accepted in court in the first century in Israel. If someone were to fabricate an account of Jesus appearing to people after his death, the choice of women being the first to see him would be a very odd choice and serve only to reduce the credibility of the story (Matt. 28:1-10; Luke 23:55-24:11; Mark 16:1-11; John 20:11-18).

5. Jesus was buried in a known tomb.

Groothuis also cites the work of William Lane Craig (Knowing the Truth About the Resurrection) regarding the fact that it would have been far easier for the disciples to falsely claim Jesus was resurrected if he had been buried in an unknown tomb.[3] The exact location of Jesus’ burial is stated in three of the gospels (Matt. 27:57-61; Mark 14:42-47; John 19:38-42).

6. The gospel writers included embarrassing facts about the apostles.

The fact that the gospels include embarrassing accounts of the apostles, such as the fact that Peter denied Jesus three times and all the apostles abandoned Jesus when he was arrested, points to their authenticity. It is unlikely that people would fabricate an account that places themselves in a poor light (Matt. 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42).

7. The marble tablet known as the Nazareth Inscription points to Rome’s concerns about the upheaval caused by Jesus’ resurrection in the first century.

While we don’t know exactly when and where the tablet was discovered, it became part of a private collection in France in 1878 and has resided in the National Library of France, (Bibliothèque nationale, Paris) since 1925. According to Wikipedia,
The Nazareth Inscription or Nazareth decree is a marble tablet inscribed in Greek with an edict from an unnamed Caesar ordering capital punishment for anyone caught disturbing graves or tombs. It is dated on the basis of epigraphy to the first half of the 1st century AD. Its provenance is unknown, but a French collector acquired the stone from Nazareth. It is now in the collection of the Louvre.

The upheaval in the Roman Empire caused by the rapid growth of the Christian religion could well have been the underlying cause of this Roman edict that forbade grave-robbing.

8. Every one of the twelve apostles died a martyr’s death except for John, who was exiled to the island of Patmos, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and hung himself.

While people have been known to die for a lie because they believed it to be true, it is almost impossible to find someone who would die for a lie with the full knowledge that it was false. It is highly unlikely that the disciples would have given their lives for a claim they had themselves fabricated.

9. Written testimony of Jesus’ resurrection dates back to within approximately 20 years of the event.
According to New Testament scholars D. A. Carson and Douglas Moo in their book An Introduction to the New Testament, historical evidence indicates that the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, in which he writes about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, was written sometime during the early to mid 50s.[1] The fact that Paul wrote about Jesus’ resurrection and that many people (over 500) saw Jesus alive after his crucifixion and burial so close to the actual event is strong testimony to the accuracy of Paul’s words:

10. The respected Jewish historian Josephus acknowledged the historicity of Jesus and his execution at the hands of Pontius Pilate.

Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews (circa AD 93–94) includes two passages about Jesus. The Testimonium Flavianum (Book 18, Ch. 3, 3) specifically mentions Jesus’ execution and resurrection:
About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many Greeks. He was the Christ. And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day.
While this passage has been disputed as being entirely original to Josephus, specifically in regard to Jesus’ resurrection, a broad consensus of scholars acknowledges that it contains “an authentic nucleus with a reference to the execution of Jesus by Pilate.”

 Many times you must have questioned yourself about why you don’t pray often, even if you’ve the urge to. Sometimes you may plan to pray and end up falling asleep or talking with friends till it’s past your bedtime. You hear most of your Christian friends talk about how much they have prayed, some even have a prayer closet or space and use it to pray every single day, while you are still struggling to keep up with once a day prayer. Find yourself in this shoe? Well, we’ve got tips for you on how to improve your prayer life and help you pray often. Read till the end to find out.

Prayer

Prayer is the lifting of your heart and soul to God. When people hear prayer, most people think it is all about protocols and rules. Closing your eyes, kneeling on the head floor– because that is a must, and praying out loud. Many people that aren’t comfortable with it think it’s a big deal and hence tend to move away from it. It really shouldn’t be that way. Prayer is an intimate session with God and intimacy is relative according to your preferences. God also tells us in Colossians 4 vs 2 “Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving.” Hence make it your moment to talk to your creator like it’s just you and him on a walk.

5 Tip To Help You Pray Better

Ever feel like you don’t know how to pray or you are not at the prayer level you pictured yourself in the past. Just think of Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. 

1. Set A Convenient Prayer Time

Setting a prayer time may seem easy at first until you have missed it a couple of times. Sometimes we set prayers at times when it feels like we would be free or as the last thing of the day. Oftentimes we sleep off or end up coming in later than that time. That is why it is best to set payer times at conducive hours of the day. The time when you are most comfortable. It doesn’t have to be the last thing at night. You can say it just after a meal, when you still have all the energy. This also means you have to be disciplined enough to stick to it even at the worst times 

2. Steer Clear Of Unnecessary Distractions

It is one thing to set a standard prayer time for yourself and then it is another thing to actually pry yourself away from every other activity in order to pray. Distractions will come, yes, but your ability to maneuver those distractions and come to your prayer position should be learned. The word of God God us in Matthew Ch 26 vs 41 “Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” One way to pull yourself from distractions is by making a quiet corner, an altar in your home or having a prayer closet.

3. Take Up A Comfortable Position 

For you to have an effective prayer time, you need to take up a prayer position you are more comfortable with. During discomfort, our minds tend to shift away from the main focus and instead focus on the area of discomfort and that can make you shorten your prayer time so you can finally be comfortable. Many people may want to kneel and many others may have some form of knee or back pain and may want to sit back while many others may just want to lay their head on the bed after a long day’s work. As far as you have the utmost amount of comfort and focus, it’s fine. Except on occasions where you want to just kneel or stand.

4. Have A Prayer Partner

Many people find it difficult to pray and that may be due to so many reasons. The lack of prayer points, no time or distractions. Having a prayer partner comes in handy because it helps you keep in touch with your prayer life. This partner gives your soul the boost to pray. They can call, text and set up a meeting with you to discuss your spiritual life and how to become more prayerful. To get a prayer partner, you can confide in someone and tell them the difficulties you are facing as regarding your spirituality and as a recommendation of a good prayer partner or they could volunteer to help you themselves.

An old window Naomi a has lost both sons, Marlon and Kilion who both married Moabite women Ruth and Oprah. This old woman Naomi, was left with nothing but two Daughters in law. She sought to return back to her land, Judah, because the Lord has finally remembered and blessed the land. 

She turned back and urged her daughters-in law saying to them that they should return back to their people, their tradition and gods, for she too would return to her land empty-handed. They both blatantly refused, soon Oprah went back but Ruth remained steadfast and clung to her Mother in law and said these words;

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth Ch: 1 vs 16.

Sadly, Naomi felt the Lord has deserted her and made her life too bitter that she changed her name from Naomi to Mara because the Almighty made her life bitter.–Ruth ch: 1 vs 20

Sometimes in life, we are at crossroads on what we should do in certain situations and it makes us lose faith and sight of the things that matter.  A determined heart would always strive to look for a good side. This is illustrated here; because Ruth who was also a widow left all her properties and her family land to follow the one true God. Just as how the Book of Isaiah has told us…

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”– Isaiah Ch: 14 vs 18–19

When they both returned to Judah Ruth remained steadfast and hardworking and she found favour in the eyes of a man named Boaz and that was where the miracle started.

What Does it Show Us

Naomi only wanted what was best for her daughter in law Ruth that she even promised to find her a home. This singular act shows us about repaying kindness, how kindness can come back to those that give it out. It also expressed the belief of Karma that whatever goes around comes back around.  

There is ancient writing from different cultures that focuses on giving. Even the scriptures also tell us so…

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”–Luke Ch: 6 vs 38

One emphasis made from ancient cultures says that if you cast your bread on water, it would return to you many days later.

Boaz went on to marry Ruth and they bore a son who became a heir to Naomi. All the people praised the name of the lord on her behalf and they all said..

“He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”–Ruth Ch:4 vs 15

Our Role To Play 

What do we need to do when we find ourselves in the most horrid situations that makes us want to give up? But we must learn from this story of Ruth and Naomi to always put God first and work very hard. Here are some ways to keep yourself going no matter how the going gets tough:

1. We need to hold on to God and believe that he know what is better for us. 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will free from you. Come near to God and he would come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinner, and purify your hearts, you double minded”– James Ch: 4 vs 7—8

2. You must look forward to better days and believe that one day God would Renew and sustain you at the appointed time.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”–Jeremiah Ch: 29 vs 11