A Resurrection Like That Of Jesus

TITLE: A Resurrection Like that of Jesus
DATE: November 20, 2018
TEXT: 1 Peter 1:2 (ESV) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
​
Kazakhstan’s Aigalia Supygaliev, henceforth known in this devotion as “Uncle Aigali” was a wandering kind of fellow. Without notice or even a “good-by” it was not unusual for Uncle Aigali to hit the road for a week or two at a time. During his absence there would be no calls, no letters, no emails revealing his whereabouts.

One day Uncle Aigali would be there and then he would be gone.

Which explains why, when the 63-year-old man disappeared this past June, his family didn’t worry. Indeed, a full month passed before the relatives thought it advisable to call the police and report Uncle Aigali was missing.

It didn’t take too long for officers to return with bad news.

They had found a charred body and, after investigation, their forensics team had concluded, with 99.2% certainly, that the remains were those of Uncle Aigali. The family immediately went into mourning for their wandering Uncle. The obituary was published; a visitation was held, a funeral service was completed and the remains were buried.
After that, the still-mourning family tried to get on with their lives.

That’s the way it would have remained if it hadn’t been for the fact that two months after the funeral Uncle Aigali strolled through the front door. Those who were there commented he looked very good for a man who had been deceased for so long.

Understandably the family wanted explanations. First they wanted to know who it was they buried. Second, they wanted to know where Uncle Aigali had been. (He said he had found work in a village down the road.)  Third they wanted their forensic specialist to explain his 99.2% sureness claim. The specialist shrugged and said, ‘Don’t forget I admitted there was a 0.8% chance I was wrong.’

After reading that news article I was surprised to find, in other locations, people who commented on the story had said, “It’s just like the story of Jesus’ resurrection. He was supposed to be dead… but He really wasn’t.” To anyone who might agree with these rewriters of history, I would say only this:

• Nobody saw Uncle Aigali nailed to a cross.
• Nobody saw Uncle Aigali stabbed in the chest with a spear.
• Nobody saw Uncle Aigali's body being taken down from the cross;
•  Nobody followed and watched to see where Uncle Aigali was being buried.
• Nobody put a guard and seal on Uncle Aigali's grave to make sure he stayed put.
• Nobody saw Uncle Aigali dead… but great crowds saw Jesus suffer and die…AND the result of His resurrection..

No, the story of Uncle Aigali's return and Jesus’ resurrection have nothing in common. From beginning to end to beyond the differences are astounding.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for the living hope which has been given me. I rejoice that my hope is built on facts and not foolishness. Grant that I may let others know the joy which comes in this life when you have a living Lord and Redeemer. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by for Newser by Jenn Gidman on November 6, 2018 . Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: http://www.newser.com/story/266892/2-months-after-burial-dead-brother-shows-up.html