One man died for us, taking on the full burden of sin for all mankind from all ages. The agony of this heavy load made him cry out to God, "Father why have you forsaken me?" His spiritual burden was greater than death. His body died that day, but his soul agonized -- for us. Jesus arose from the grave and now lives in heaven. His Ghost remains with us for Comfort! Because Jesus, formerly dead, walked through solid walls to life and ascended into heaven, that can be our own destiny! What does it take? To believe this and to accept it! It's free and the only outcome is love of God and others. That's the "proof in the pudding" so to speak!
With that knowledge now is the time for salvation. He knocks and must be received because he may fail to knock at your whim. We walk with Jesus on his terms and must never take for granted that a right heart will be willing sometime later. For those who are "sorry" after their own death, it will be too late! For those who fail to answer his call, you too will live eternally, but it will be a horrible living death with no escape. Eternal punishment is called "the second death", and if you dread death now, in hell you will die continually being consumed by fire only to be consumed time and again. Your body will be immortal, but with the constant sting of death!
For those who humbly believe, accept and obey Jesus, Death is swallowed up in victory! Yes, this is the anniversary celebration of our own chance at a new birth. It's when some of us crawled from the womb of bondage into eternal life. It's when fear died and hope arose! I can live today because of the hope of eternal reward. That makes this life worth the living and it's because Jesus suffered death for me! But more importantly is that Death was defeated by the Resurrection!
It has been written:
"...the name Golgotha refers to the location of the skull of Adam. A common version states that Shem and Melchizedek traveled to the resting place of Noah's Ark, retrieved the body of Adam from it, and were led by Angels to Golgotha – described as a skull-shaped hill at the centre of the Earth, where also the serpent's head had been crushed following the fall of man. This tradition appears in numerous older sources, including the Kitab al-Magall, the Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, the Cave of Treasures, and the writings of Patriarch Eutychius of Alexandria." (Wikipedia).I believe this contention! I believe that Adam's skull is buried on Cavalry. I also believe that with the death and resurrection of Jesus, sin (from Adam) was defeated there, and the serpents head crushed (also from these writings). Why? It all fits into the contiguous narrative of Jesus Christ! It is said that Shem and Melchizdek buried Adam's skull at "the place of the skull" as part of God's plan for Calvary! It's because of this;
Romans 5:19 ",,,for as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam), the many were constituted sinners: so also through the obedience of the one (Jesus), shall the many be constituted righteous."Where better to get closure from Adam's sin than on top of his head! It was his mind which was housed in his skull and it's that mind which brought sin into the world! As Jesus defeated sin, he stood on top of that skull and it was stepped on, being representative of the head of Satan, as I believe. Nobody is sure, but God had a big plan from day one, and this was the consummation of that plan hatched back there with Adam. It's symbolic of justice. The loop is closed. Adam's belief in what saved him now came about. Adam was finally saved after having that hope all his mortal life. His spirit was already in heaven, now his skull (body) will join him there glorified like Jesus!
Now for much speculation! I enjoy this because it is possible.
Matthew 27:50 "And Jesus having again cried with a great voice, yielded the spirit; 51 and lo, the vail of the sanctuary was rent in two from top unto bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent, 52 and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen asleep, arose, 53 and having come forth out of the tombs after his rising, they went into the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 And the centurion, and those with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake, and the things that were done, were exceedingly afraid, saying, `Truly this was God's Son.'"By the way, the centurion was wrong. This WAS not, but IS the Son of God because Jesus body died, but he always was, is and always will be! That's what his resurrection was all about!
Saints are what Christians are called. It has some bearing on "goodness", but it's because of God's gift to mankind that sainthood is possible. Many BODIES of saints arose from the grave because all sins were just then paid for the instant Jesus "yielded his spirit" and died. Because he died those who had died in this hope immediately arose from the ground in bodily form and actually walked the streets where they were seen by many!
Who could these saints be? How about John the Baptist whose purpose in life was the tell the world about Jesus? John was baptized with blood for Jesus' name!
There is another saint who may have rose from the dead! If Adam's skull was buried on "the place of the skull", Calvary, it would be a sure possibility that Adam rose from his place beneath Jesus as the curtain was torn, rose up and walked among many! This would surely close the loop. Adam was the source of death and with Jesus' sacrifice, Adam was finally made whole. It could be him who rose from his resting place and demonstrated to all the power in the blood!
With the death of Jesus, was Adam resurrected? We don't know how long the saints walked the streets, but surely, since they were destined to die, but one time, that they ascended unto heaven and are there with Jesus; Adam and Jesus side by side with hands raised to praise God. Adam's loop is closed. It's closed whether it was his skull or not!
Won't it be great when we see all the miracles which God did, but we failed to discern. Because Adam is alive is why I have hope. Because Jesus defeated death is when hope gestated in the hearts of men as they are born again! Because he lives we can face tomorrow! Bill Gaither sings it well!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,Adam arose from his grave and all fear was gone! Jesus was Adam's future. He had the same hope that we have. The loop is closed. Adam lives on and now for us, life is worth the living!
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
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