THE GREATEST ESCAPEOLOGIST

Harry Houdini, the famous escapologist, had escaped handcuffed from straightjackets, strongboxes and underwater containers.  Before he died on 31st October 1926, he and his wife Bess arranged to try and contact each other on 31st December 1926, but Houdini could not unlock the dungeon of death.  Only one person in history has ever triumphed over the tomb and His name is
J E S U S !

All four gospel writers record, in a variety of ways, these words of Jesus about Himself.  “They will mock and scourge and crucify Him.  And on the third day He will rise again.”  [ Matthew 20:19 ]  Amazingly his enemies believed this more than His own followers!  This is why they said to Pontius Pilate after Jesus had died, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’  Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day in case His disciples come by night and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead!’”  After the resurrection, soldiers who were guarding the tomb had to be bribed to tell everybody that, the disciples came by night and stole Him away while we slept!  How could they have known this if they were asleep?!  And why weren’t they executed for sleeping on duty?!  See [ Matthew chapters 27-28 ].

In sharp contrast a growing number of people who had seen the risen Jesus and even touched Him and watched Him eat food, and heard His familiar voice, would rather die than tell a lie.  See [ John chapters 20 & 21 ].  If Christ’s body had not come alive and risen through the solid rock of the tomb, our faith would be futile and His death just a tragedy!  But His triumphant resurrection is the receipt that proves His sacrifice has fully paid the penalty our sins deserved.  Repent, Receive Him and Rejoice.