Corruption

TITLE: Corruption
DATE: February 8, 2019
TEXT: Ps 16:10 -  ESV -  you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,  or let your holy one see corruption
Acts 2:27 – ESV - or you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
Acts 13:35 – ESV - Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’

These verses, one of prophecy and two of fulfillment. All state that after Jesus died, His body would not decay. Now hearing that piece of news might not seem like a big deal to you… but it was something pretty important in the ancient world.
For example, according to the historians, Alexander the Great was supposed to have been a god, the son of Zeus. And where did that belief come from?

• First, Alexander’s mother always taught him that Zeus, not Phillip of Macedon was his father.
• Second, the priests of Egypt at Siwa told him the same thing.
• Third, his incredible generalship and many conquests made him seem godlike… AND
• Lastly, Alexander’s body did not decay for six days after he died. (Remember Lazarus body “stinketh” after only four-days.

So, was Alexander a god like Jesus? And if not, how can you explain what happened after Alexander died? Well, Daily Devotioners there is an answer being put forth by Dr. Katherine Hall of Otago’s Durnedin School of Medicine.
Very simply, she says Alexander wasn’t dead.

Dr Hall thinks Alexander came down with the neurological disorder Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), GBS would produce the symptoms observed by those who were at the General’s end. Amongst those signs would be progressive, symmetrical paralysis and a reduced need for oxygen.

In contrast to Alexander, we have Jesus the only Son of God. Is it possible Jesus was buried alive and then revived in the cool dampness of His borrowed tomb.

The simple answer is: “No, it’s not possible.”

Why? Very simple:  people don’t recover from being beaten, scourged spit upon beaten some more, being crowned with thorns, nailed to a cross and then stabbed in the heart with a Roman spear…

And remember if a Roman prisoner escaped or avoided the finality of crucifixion, the solders assigned to do the task would have been forfeiting their own lives. If Alexander had suffered as Jesus did, his body would have truly been dead… and he wasn’t going to come back.

The point we are driving at is, “You can call any number of people ‘Great.’” Some of them may be worthy of the title when they are measured by the standards and rules of humankind, but, only Jesus was the Son of God; only Jesus could carry humanity’s sins and only Jesus could lay down His life and then take it up again.

All of which means, the title behind Jesus’ Name is not “Great”; it is Jesus, the Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I rejoice that I have been introduced to and have been brought to faith in Jesus. It is Your Son, my Savior, Who has defeated sin, death and devil so I might be saved. Grant this transforming faith, dear Lord, to others. In the Savior’s Name I ask it. Amen

Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written b Kate Seaons for Newser on January 23, 2019.  Those who wish may check out  link which was, at the time of writing, fully active: http://www.newser.com/story/270323/theory-alexander-the-great-alive-for-6-days-after-death.html

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers.