ISRAEL UPDATEApril 11, 2004 - Over the past few months, several Palestinian leaders have expressed their anger and outrage over the “wall of separation” that Israel is building to divide the two groups of people.
This truly becomes a puzzling scenario, since the Palestinians have demanded many other things to separate themselves, such as a flag, a nation, different tax laws, a judicial system, etc… in order to distinguish them from what has been called the Israeli occupation.
Several other countries in the region, i.e., Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, have a fence is that divides them from their neighbors, what is really behind their anger?
Granted, the fence between the Israelis and the Palestinians is solid construction - not chain-link fence. . . , but then again, the past 10 years of the “peace process” between these two groups has left more than 700 Israelis dead and nearly 3000 wounded. The Palestinian casualties are staggering as well.
Israel has basic peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, and an “accord” with the Palestinians, but whether it has been Yasser Arafat, or Mahmoud Abbas, the unbridled terrorist activities continue. . .
The casual observer would say it is an unbelievable act to put up a fence - alienating the two groups - but the facts prove otherwise.
Follow the time line from September 13, 1993 (the day the “Oslo Accord” was signed), to the present day. Notice the heinous brutality that has continued non-stop for over a decade, then perhaps you will ask, why did Israel wait so long to build the wall?
April 11, 2004 - We have all heard many reasons why Jesus was not the Son of G-d and that He was just a man.
This mentality will tell you that there was no resurrection, but that His well-meaning disciples took the body and hid it.
Still further, there is a school of thought that says Jesus was medicated to appear dead – so later when His body was removed, the drug's effect wore off and Jesus was spirited away by his followers.
Realistically, the first notion is not correct due to one cold, hard fact… history verifies the information that all of the original 11 disciples went their separate ways to spread the gospel.
With the exception of John the Revelator who died of old age, each of these men faced martyrdom… they could have had their lives spared by denying that Jesus was the Messiah – but all of them chose to be put to death.
How easy it would have began to say “Hey, guys… it was all a scam, we swiped the body, just don't kill me, it's not worth it.”
Secondly, if Jesus had been sedated, think about a body so beaten that blood flowed freely. Also consider the dehydration, fatigue, and stress on the body – to sedate Him would run the risk of actually killing Him, rather than preserving Him.
There is a reason why the 11 original disciples plus the millions since who have followed Jesus have refused to deny the reality of His sinless life, death by torture, and resurrection. Simply stated, because it was a reality… Happy Easter, may the Son rise in your hearts!
To be continued…