"Five Hundred Saw Him" - A Haiku
"Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep." - 1 Corinthians 15:6
Thoughts of the resurrection still grip me, a week later.
That Jesus rose from the dead in a physical body is one of the best attested facts of ancient (~2000 years past) history. His resurrection was witnessed by his closest friends and followers, but additionally by more than 500 others at the time.
They saw him, ate with him, touched him, and spoke with him. None had any doubt that it was Jesus. None doubted that he had died. None could deny that he was indeed alive again. This is earth-shaking information for anyone who may care about matters of life and death.
Jesus' followers spent the rest of their lives going world-wide with this news, despite incredible persecution, and ultimately martyrdom. Think about that.
I've written another haiku on the subject of Jesus' return to life from death.
But first, let me share Jesus' promise with you as well, so that you might have an opportunity to believe:
"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”" - John 6:35-40, emphasis added
My personal hope for my future, as well as the future of my friends and loved ones, is this: Jesus rose from the dead, and he has promised to raise me also from the dead on the last day. He has promised to raise all who will believe on him.
Five Hundred Saw Him
Photo courtesy of Ezra Jeffrey and http://unsplash.com
"Five Hundred Saw Him"
Forty days he stayed,
After rising from the dead.
Five hundred saw him.
Jesus is alive. Believe it.
~FIN~
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Thank you.
You're welcome! :)
I'm not what you'd call a believer, but we're in deeper that I've ever seen in my life. We sure could use some kind of salvation.
I understand and appreciate you and your position. I've read at least some of the history you've shared, and my heart goes out to you. I have friends in similar situations, and I realize that faith is not a "given" and that even those raised in believing surroundings need God's grace in order to come to faith.
My best understanding of this is that the salvation Jesus offers is very individually oriented, available to anyone who sincerely seeks and asks. I also recognize that, even among those who profess belief in Jesus, many don't really "get it" because they still support the multitude of evils of the state. There are serious problems with what the "organized church" teaches about this that propagate the problem...
Despite all that, Jesus still calls individuals to himself, still offers salvation. In terms of its affect on the world, what a mere individual can do may be limited... I do what I can... but probably the greatest thing I can do is spread the word of the life and hope that I have found, in Jesus, and offer that hope to others.
The best way I know how to "offer" that is to be honest and open about my own beliefs, to try and share my own excitement about the future, and to encourage people to read the bible. I find the book that John wrote to be exceptional in that regard, because it is very hard to read with an open mind without at the very least seeing the amazing claims that Jesus made about himself and about what he offers mankind.
Thanks a lot for reading and interacting, my friend! ;)
I would believe if I could. I have been deceived so much in my life, that I do not give trust easily, and almost never without proof.
The only effective way I have found for spreading truth is by example. I believe I do not present a very good example, but I do try. 'Would I follow my example?' is one of the questions that is my constant companion.
The fellowship of those who are striving to do right, without forcing others, is the closest I've come to faith. The rest seems to be a thick fog of false prophets, obscuring what is right to even the most avid seekers.
'To thine own self be true' is the best light I have so far, not the self of selfishness, but of the knowledge that I have what is right, inside myself, if I make the effort to look. If I did not, I would not have the drive to care, or even ask.
For me, the rub has always come in that even though I have that inner knowledge of what is right, I fail to live up to even that... Do you have that problem?
Mistakes are how I learn. I'd be worse off without them. The best I can usually do is avoid hurting others when I make mistakes. The main problem with that is, I end up separating myself from others, and I have no one to depend on when I need help.
Thank you for posting @creatr.
Lovely well written post.
Always appreciate posts that introduce the Christ to a lost and dying world which you do so well.
Wishing you and yours all the best.
Thank you my friend @bleujay, your encouragement is always greatly appreciated! :) :D
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Thanks again. Suggestions wanted for remedies to this frequent and sad situation? :D
Excellent work dear friend @ creatr, it is very beautiful what you have published, one of the greatest events of Christianity, thank you very much
Thank you very much, my friend @jlufer, for your kind and encouraging visit and words! :D