Dead or Alive?

 Thought For Today - March 25
  Dead or Alive?
By: Robert A. Searles

    It is interesting to observe how the body of Jesus is referred to while he was being scourged and crucified , and while he was dying.  "And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. and when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:' and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Luke 23:44-46.

    The personal pronoun used is HE  indicating a living person. However, after his death, his body is referred to as IT, indicating a lifeless object. 

 "Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took IT down, and wrapped IT in linen, and laid IT in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone wherein never man before was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices, and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment" Luke 23: 47-56

    Then again, after his resurrection, the reference is again HE  indicating that HE is alive again. 

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them, And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead HE is not here, but is risen: remember how HE spake unto you when HE was yet in Galilee, Saying, the son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." Luke 24: 1-7.

    He died, his body became temporarily empty of his spirit, and a lifeless object (IT). Then, praise God, his spirit returned to his body again, and HE was bodily resurrected, and so, the man Christ Jesus is eternally alive in the heaven in both body and spirit, and some day we shall see him as he is, and if we are saved we shall be like him.

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