Letter #24: He’s Alive

 

Dear Michael, 

I can not write this fast enough, but JESUS IS ALIVE! I know it sounds crazy, but it is true!

Earlier this morning I realized that something was up. There were people running from house to house in a hurry. I was able to stop one of the men doing this and asked him what is happening, and he told me. The stone guarding Jesus’ tomb has been moved and His body is gone. At first anger rose up in me…who would dare take His body like that!? But the man kept speaking. He continued on and said there were women headed to the tomb and saw, not only an angel there, but Jesus Himself. In that moment it was like someone hit me with a ton of bricks. I struggled to process this at first. As I wrote to you perviously, the matter of Jesus’ death has been extremly hard for me. In hearing this I initially rejected this idea of Jesus being alive. That these men were looking to gain something from manipulating those who cared for Jesus. But Michael, the way in which he spoke of this told me he wasn’t lying. But I couldn’t just take his word, I wanted to see His tomb for myself. So I ran as fast as I could. 

The closer I got to His tomb the more people I began to see. They to must of heard the news and wanted to check it out for themselves as well. As I arrived, Roman guards were already trying to clear everyone away, but it was clear enough to see that the stone really had been rolled away. Amongst those around there were many theories being shared but two were most accepted. #1: Jesus disciples came in the middle of the night/early morning and stole the body. This was the theory that some of the religious leaders were really pushing and talking about. But one disciple is dead and the others are probably in hiding…so it couldn’t be that. So that leaves theory #2: Jesus rose from the dead and is alive! The thought of the dead coming back to life sounds impossible, yet Jesus himself raised that Lazarus guy from the dead. There was also that one guys daughter. I’ve heard many stories about Him bringing her back to life too! So maybe the impossible isn’t as impossible as I originally believed. 

On my way back to my house I couldn’t help but think about these things. He is alive! But as I kept thinking about it, surely He isn’t, right? Am I just in denial that this terrible thing didn’t happen? As much as the empty tomb gave me hope, my thoughts continued to point to the facts of what I saw a few days ago. I watched Jesus die on that cross, with my own eyes. I saw Him breathe His last. I realize Jesus brought some people back to life, but He died this time…who is bringing Him back to life? I wanted to badly to cling to that hope, but I honestly didn’t know what to believe. So as I walked back I was saddened even more. 

Along the way I met up with Cleopas. He too had heard the news of Jesus body missing from the tomb, and was also sad while thinking of all that had taken place. While we were walking another man starting walking with us that we did not know. He asked what we were talking about so intently. How He didn’t know what happened to Jesus astonished us, but Cleopas went ahead and told him everything from who Jesus was, what He had done, our belief that He might be Messiah, His death, and also how His tomb is empty. Once Cleopas was done the man called us foolish! But he began to tell us and walk us through the scriptures how the messiah would have to suffer. He took us through the writings of Moses and the prophets pointing out Messiah. As he spoke something within me was burning. The knowledge and wisdom this man was sharing was unlike any I have ever heard. Expect one, but that was Jesus. He pointed us to Isaiah and how at one point he describes a suffering servant. Much of what this man was showing us I have never heard taught in such ways before. As we got closer to my home I invited both Cleopas and this man to stay the night that we may continue to talk. 

As we arrived at my house I got some bread out and handed it to the man. He blessed it…and then it happened. Like scales falling off my eyes, like a fog in my mind being lifted, like new found understanding…I saw Him. Michael, this was no ordinary man, IT WAS JESUS! As soon as we recognized this He vanished! I SAW JESUS, with my own eyes! HE IS ALIVE! When I recognized who He was…I couldn’t help but cry. Jesus is alive…He is Messiah…He is all that He said He was… Other things didn’t seem as important anymore. Even the sadness me and Cleopas were experiencing seemed to disappear the moment Jesus was made aware to us!

My mind is still racing and I can not begin to explain the joy that is within me at this very moment. He is Alive! Jesus is alive! I can’t stop writing those words and I won’t stop either! I don’t know what happens next, but one thing I do know is this…Jesus is alive and I will follow Him wherever He goes. I do not know when I will be able to write to you again, but please share what I have told you with others. They too must know that Jesus is alive! 

Your Friend,

Ananias