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Is Jesus Real?

  • Writer: Shelby Woodall
    Shelby Woodall
  • Apr 1, 2018
  • 3 min read

Easter of 2006. I remember it vividly. I was scared. I was terrified.

I trudged to the front of the sanctuary while hesitantly moving one seemingly brick foot in front of the other. The lump in my throat felt like a golf ball, and I could tangibly feel every eye fervently following me up that aisle.

This was the first altar call I’ve ever personally participated in. Brother Rick asked for anyone who desired to be saved to approach him at the front of the small sanctuary that now felt as big as Madison Square Garden. I remember his strong hand on my shoulder and his deep voice praying in my ear. I remember replying in a small, not-quite-ten-year-old-yet voice to every question Brother Rick asked; accepting full responsibility for saying yes to Jesus.

Easter, along with its predecessor Good Friday, has always been particularly special to me because of this paramount event in my personal life. However, it is the one holiday I’ve always been asked about when witnessing to someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Christmas is amazing, but Jesus being born isn’t completely unbelievable or “supernatural” besides the fact of a virgin pregnancy. Even Good Friday itself isn’t questionable, because what lost people consider a “normal” man died on a “normal” Cross. Hundreds of people before and after Jesus died on various crosses of their own.

No, what is extraordinary is the fact that this Man rose from the dead. This event alone is the biggest stumbling block for people on the fence about accepting Jesus as a true, palpable Savior. I’ll even admit, it perplexed me to think of someone actually coming back to life, especially being so young when I got saved. This is the reason I titled this article, “Is Jesus Real?”

I honestly cannot blame the ones without Jesus for being skeptical because of this one amazingly astounding event in history.

But, that’s the point. It is an existent, legitimate piece of our history woven over time. I think the complexity and grandeur of Jesus rising from the dead speaks volumes to how powerful our God really is. The fact that a human body (although He is the Savior of the world) could withstand beatings, lashings, stabbings, and being nailed to a tree can come back to life is staggering. Because of accomplishing this major feat, nine-year-old Shelby wanted to get to know this Jesus guy. I wanted to indulge my child-like curiosity and find out why He is so powerful and how He could be present in my own life.

The not-so-funny thing about it is that the beatings and being nailed to the Cross didn’t kill Jesus. Studies and scientists have discovered that (as prophesied years before in the Bible) Jesus died of a heart attack, or more symbolically, a broken heart. When people were crucified, the soldiers would stab them with a spear under the ribs and through the heart to make sure that they were completely dead. When Jesus was stabbed, blood and water came out simultaneously. This, as doctors explain, is a way to diagnose a heart attack.

Jesus’ heart was literally broken for the people He died for. He took our sin, died to save us from it, then showed sin Who’s boss by coming back from the dead.

Haters will say it’s impossible. Believers will say it happened.

Hopefully, you will say yes and accept what this glorious day represents, despite any reservations you have regarding the authenticity.

As always, if you have any questions, please click the “Contact” page and shoot me an email. Talking Jesus with people just so happens to be a hobby of mine. I can’t answer all of your theological questions, but I can tell you how God has proven Himself real in my personal life.


 
 
 

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