All human religions and philosophies worship graves filled with decaying bones and flesh, or invent false gods, like the Golden Calf. But the people seeing that Moses delaying to come down from the mountain, came to Aaron, and they said to him, Arise, make us gods who walk before us, because as for this Moses, this man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what befell him. And Aaron said unto them, Put in pieces the gold rings that are in the ears of thy wives, and of thy sons, and of thy daughters: and bring them unto me. And all the people broke in pieces the gold rings that were in their ears, and they brought them to Aaron, who had taken them out of their hands, and formed the gold with a burrow, and he made it into an iron calf. And they said, “These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 32:1-4) The Hebrews – yet the chosen people of the true God – preferred a false religion based on a big lie from their imagination to the true God who had just freed them from the land of their slavery; they preferred a reassuring lie to a troubling reality[1]. And yet they had seen with their own eyes the ten plagues of Egypt, the death of the firstborn Egyptians, and the sea opening in two before them, and then shut itself over Pharaoh’s army. But they didn’t want to know.
Christianity is the exact opposite of a religion made up by man, as we hear it. He does not worship a tomb occupied by a corpse, but an empty tomb, which has only been occupied a few hours, at most. This is a unique case. Indeed, Christ rose alive on the third day, and no one has ever been buried there since. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and the same to the other who was crucified with him. Then coming to Jesus, and seeing that he was already dead, they broke his legs: but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and first he poured out blood and water. And he who saw him, [John the Apostle] testified to him, and his testimony is worthy of faith; and he knows that he speaks the truth, that you may believe. For these things have come to pass, that this scripture may be fulfilled: Not one of his bones shall be broken. (John 19:32-36) Roman soldiers being professional killers and specialists in death, there is no doubt about the death of Jesus crucified. Christ died and He rose from the dead, that’s the best documented historical fact in antiquity.
Jesus Christ is therefore alive[2], and He ascended to Heaven with His Body, 40 days after Easter (Thursday marks the Ascension), where He is still today, seated on the heavenly throne, at the right hand of the Father.: … He was exalted [to heaven], they looked at him, and a cloud supporting him took him from before their eyes. And as they had their eyes fixed toward heaven, as he departed, lo, two men in white garments appeared before them, saying unto them, Men of Galilee, why do ye stop looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was raised up with you into heaven, will come down in the same way as you have seen him ascended to heaven. (Acts 1:9-11) Christ will come back for His elects, whether they like it or not. No law of man can prohibit or prevent him from doing this. Let’s tell each other!
Thus, Jesus Christ did not invent a religion, but opened a RELATIONSHIP of love between Him and His Church, the Wife of the Lamb, composed of all forgiven sinners on the basis of faith in Him. He came to His own; and His own did not see Him.… received; but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, [knowledge] to those who believe on his name. (John 1:11-12) Our heavenly Father promised to spare His adopted children, at the last judgment. He will make them.: ... I say these things so that you might be saved. (John 5:34)
Yves Méra
Presiding Bishop – AOC France
Regional Coordinator for Europe and Africa
Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
[1] A problem that has plagued mankind since Adam and Eve.
[2] Believers, skeptics, agnostics or atheists, no matter. No one ever refers to the late Jesus. He LIVES!
