Is The Resurrection A Hoax?

Last week I read the interesting and bizarre story of Raymond Roth, a native of the northeast area of the United States.

The interesting part of all this is that the week before Easter Raymond Roth pleaded guilty to fraud for having faked his own death. He did this in order for his wife and step-son to receive $400,000 in life insurance proceeds.Though the scheme seemed to be elaborate and well-planned, it simply fell apart and did so quickly.

This is the way the plan unfolded. Last August Jonathan Roth, the step-son, notified authorities that his father was missing after swimming off Jones Beach. A search was begun for Raymond Roth in hopes of finding him alive. After they failed to find him alive, the authorities began looking for his body.

The concocted story did not even hold together for a week. First, Raymond Roth’s wife produced emails which showed that father and son had communicated about the plan. What happened next sealed the deal. Raymond Roth planned to move to Florida to start a new life. He, unfortunately, drove above the speed limit to get to his new home. Authorities in South Carolina pulled him over and entered his name in their computer system. You can guess the rest. Now, Raymond Roth will spend time in jail.

It’s hard to hold a hoax together. This one didn’t last a week and it only had three people involved.

When you look at the story of Jesus’ resurrection, you immediately see how His message has the “ring of truth.” It has credible witnesses who simply told what they heard and saw. Their experience with Christ changed them completely and for all time.

I remember reading the words of the late Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship fame. Chuck Colson came to faith in Christ after his conviction in the Watergate break-in and coverup. Colson said that one reason he believed in the resurrection was because of how hard it is to contain a lie. He noted that people involved in Watergate began talking and looking out for themselves immediately after the story broke, but the disciples of Jesus showed their belief by their changed lives.

Maybe you and I should take our example from the disciples. Let us show our belief by the power of our changed lives. Let us be faithful to the Risen Lord as we seek to make him known to a hurting and dying world.

In reality, the world will learn of the hope that is in Christ by our love for one another and our devotion to our Lord. Anything less is not worthy of the power of the Easter story.

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3 Responses

  1. What is the more interesting story?

    Build an ark, they sneered, but it was done.

    Build a levee around your house, they sneered, then one came to help. It was done and he was called a dreamer.

    Build on your father for it is your Heavenly Father Who laid the foundation.

    He built an opening in a concrete block wall before he died. The property was bought to make the doors he designed for egress before he died.

    “You will never get the zoning changed to open the Museum,” those “in the know” said.

    An R2 nonconforming property is now C-1.

    Greed robbed the funds, adversity stole time, envy pursues still.

    How many things can, should I do alone Lord?

    Pursue My Body, My Bride. All like sheep have gone each to their own way Lord. The Ring of Truth is missing even in pictures for them Lord.

    What more must I do Lord?

    Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! A leader is not a leader without followers Lord. I can only guide based on what your reveal to me. You must Lead.

    Blessings

  2. I love the changed life aspect. In Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ”, a few months after the author came to Christ following two years of intense and detailed research, his five-year-old daughter approached her Mother saying, “Mommy, I want God to do for me what He’s done for Daddy.”

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