Something supernatural, stupendous happened!

After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples scattered. The leader whom they had followed for three years was dead, crucified as an ordinary criminal. The disciples were disillusioned, their hopes dashed, their dreams shattered. Afraid the authorities might track them down, they went into seclusion, hiding behind locked doors. But soon, their fear was replaced by the conviction that Jesus was alive.

Fifty days later on the Day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to a multitude in Jerusalem. He stated that “Jesus had been raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God.” After hearing this message, 3,000 people were saved. This was the beginning of the Christian church, which, 19 centuries later, has spread throughout the world.

Soon after Pentecost, Peter and John healed a crippled man at the temple gate. Annoyed they were preaching Jesus’ resurrection, the Sadducees arrested the two disciples and brought them before the Jewish Council for questioning. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, defiantly said: “It was by the power of Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead, that this crippled man is standing before you.” He added, “There is salvation in none other, for there is no other name under heaven whereby we may be saved.” So what changed Peter, who thrice denied knowing Jesus, to openly defying the Jewish rulers who had the power to condemn him to death? What transformed the disciples from cringing cowards to roaring lions of the faith willingly to risk their lives to proclaim that Jesus was alive? What prompted Stephen to proclaim his belief in a risen Savior at the expense of being stoned to death?

And who would die for a lie? Every time the disciples professed their Master had arisen from the dead, they were literally driving nails in their coffins. Yet, they persisted at the expense of suffering martyrdom and enduring violent deaths. Except for Judas Iscariot who committed suicide by hanging and John who lived to a ripe old age, the remainder of the disciples were martyred: Crucified were Peter, Andrew, Simon the Zealot, and Philip. Matthew was killed with an axe, Thomas speared with a sword, and James, son of Alphaeus, was beaten to death. James, son of Zebedee, was decapitated, Judas, son of James, was killed with arrows, Bartholomew was whipped to death, and Matthias, who replaced Judas, was beheaded. The Apostle Paul, who authored 13 books of the New Testament and the greatest spokesman for Christ the world has ever known, was beheaded in Rome by Emperor Nero. James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church, also was beheaded.

On a Friday afternoon during 33 A.D., Jesus died on the cross. His cadaverous, blood-drained body was wrapped in linen cloths and hastily buried in a garden tomb just before sunset. The next day, Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, came and passed without incident. But on Sunday morning, angelic forces were at work as the first rays of the morning sun danced off the garden tomb. Then, Something Supernatural and Stupendous Happened!

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