Voices: He is undefeated

They were living a nightmare. All their hopes and dreams had been placed on one man. Their friends told them this was lunacy, even more so, when they left their jobs and vocations to be disciples of a little-known rabbi from Nazareth, who seemed to be at odds with what all their religious leaders stood for.

Before long, their trust seemed well-placed. In no time at all, this rabbi became the talk of the nation. Masses were following him. His words were electric. His love was contagious. And his miracles? Indisputable.

The tide turns

Then the long knives came out. The religious leaders in all their pomp and circumstance turned their ire, accolades, and pedigree upon this carpenter turned preacher. At every turn, they confronted him, but to no avail. He seemed to slip through their fingers every time.

They began to war-game their approaches, setting theological and political traps for him. This only made things worse.

His answers made them look foolish. Their legalism was harsh, driving the people into his camp. He had to be stopped.

The religious leaders called on the power of Rome to join them in the assault. Treason, heresy, rebellion were the charges that unified the religious elite with the Romans. Enemies became friends as they sought to rage against the Son of God.

Even one of his closest disciples and friends turned him in, betrayed him if you will. Judas didn’t see this as betrayal, but as justice for the greater good.

Defeated

Their efforts succeeded. On a Friday afternoon, this carpenter from hated Nazareth was executed on a Roman cross. His disciples scattered. The movement ended as it had before for other rebel false rabbis claiming to be messiah.

In an upper room, the remaining 11 disciples licked their wounds. No way they are going to continue on.

Peter said he would go back to fishing. Matthew thought about rejoining the tax collecting career. Nathanael was going back to Cana. Andrew and Philip considered going to another town, starting life over. No way they could face their hometown where they chided their friends and family to follow the rabbi.

Everything he said came true. Up to the time of his death, he truly was undefeated. He outwitted the scholars. He held nature on a leash. He stymied all opposition—man, demon, and devil alike. He touched the diseased, and they were immediately healed. What’s most staggering, with a word, the dead were raised, brought back to life in an instant.

He was undefeated until he was defeated. In the upper room, the disciples planned to don disguises and leave town in the cloak of darkness.

The tide turns again

Then, another person walked into the room, without a single locked door opening. Startled, they fled to a corner of the room.

Then He spoke: “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.

“This is what I told you while I was still with you: ‘Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.’

“This is what is written: ‘The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’ You are witnesses of these things.”

The dust of every religious leader, god-claimant, and messianic fraud lies on this earth still. Yet, only One came out of the grave, leaving nothing behind but you and me to declare, “He is risen!”

He is undefeated! His name? Jesus!

Johnny Teague is the senior pastor of Church at the Cross in West Houston and the author of several books, including his newest Thomas Paine Returns with Common Sense. His website is johnnyteague.com. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.