The Greatest Event in History

By:  Dale Weckbacher

John 11:25

 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.^[a] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

(NLT)

Immortality is something humanity has strived for many years.  While many have believed for years that Ponce de Leon discovered Florida while in a quest for the Fountain of Youth, a closer look has revealed this to be something added later to the account by Spanish and U.S. writers as a means of adding folklore to the tale.  (1)  Whether this is true or not is unimportant for the very fact that the addition of a quest for a mythical fountain of youth adds to the story only emphasizes the allure of humanity for immortality. 

If there is some factual fountain of youth out there, it can be found in the words of Jesus contained in John 11:25.  The best part is that one does not have to travel to some distant land as Ponce De Leon did for Jesus told Nicodemus that all one must do is believe (John 3:16) wherever they happen to be.  In essence, God’s gift of salvation is available 24-7 from anywhere, even if there is no wi-fi connection. 

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday or what I like to refer to as Resurrection Sunday.  It is the day when Christians all over the world pause to remember the greatest event in human history.  It is the greatest event in human history because,

1)      Humanity lost its relationship with God (Genesis 3) – In 6 days God created the entire universe we now see.  The crown jewel of his creation was man and later woman for of all his creation, it was only man that God breathed his Spirit into (Genesis 2:7).  God then placed man and woman in the pristine Garden of Eden.  Man and woman would have lived on for eternity in paradise except they disobeyed God’s one and only command, not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:8-17).  Unfortunately for all of humanity, Adam and Eve disobeyed this one simple command after falling for the temptation of Satan the Serpent and were evicted from paradise with the sentence of death (Genesis 3:20-24).  Had the biblical account ended here it would have been a short and tragic story but in Genesis 3:15 God promises one who would come bringing redemption.

2)      God forms a nation from which the Messiah would be born – The biblical account however is not a short tragic story but instead a love story of a betrayed God paying the ultimate price, the life of his only Son to redeem his fallen creation (John 3:16).  However, the Messiah Jesus is also human and it was therefore necessary for God to raise up a nation from whom the Messiah would be born.  In hindsight, we now know this nation is the Nation of Israel.  The Bible records many attempts by Satan to prevent the birth of Messiah through the destruction of the Nation of Israel but as with all of God’s will, nothing can stop it.  The Bible also tells us that the nation of Israel was a concoction of imperfect sinful human beings and through their sin tried to prevent the birth of Messiah.  However, God’s grace prevailed and Messiah was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7). 

3)      Jesus demonstrates his divinity through signs and wonders (Matthew 11:1-6) – John the Baptist came preaching a message of repentance.  His message was to prepare people for the coming Messiah for one must repent or turn from their sin before receiving redemption.  However, even John while imprisoned wondered whether Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.  Seeking an answer to his question, John sends some of his disciples asking if Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.  Jesus then presents his calling card, the miraculous signs and wonders he performed as evidence he is indeed the Messiah. 

4)      Jesus dies on the cross and resurrects from the dead – God is a just God and as such requires that the sins of humanity be paid for by death.  However, in an amazing act of mercy and grace, God sends his sinless son (2 Corinthians 5:21) to take our death penalty, granting us eternal life.  However, Jesus did not remain in the grave but instead arose from the grave fulfilling the prophecy of Genesis 3:15. 

The greatest event in human history is the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, providing redemption and a restored relationship with God.  I therefore ask any of my readers that have not already done so accept this free-gift of salvation by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

You have now achieved what humanity has searched for throughout history, immortality with God your creator because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.  Congratulations on your decision and may God richly bless you this Resurrection Sunday.  Now, tell someone the good news, especially anyone you know has been praying for you. 

Happy Resurrection Sunday.

1. Greenspan, Jesse. The Myth of Ponce de León and the Fountain of Youth. www.history.com. [Online] History.com, April 2, 2013. [Cited: April 14, 2017.] http://www.history.com/news/the-myth-of-ponce-de-leon-and-the-fountain-of-youth.