An expedition to the moon? —really?

        July 20, 1969, was a great day in history. Apollo 11 landed on the moon and Neil Armstrong took his first step there—50 years ago! An amazing feat of engineering, technology, people management, and raw courage.

        Do you realize there are nay-sayers? Some people still think it was a hoax, a conspiracy by the US government. One such person confronted Buzz Aldrin and provoked him so much that the astronaut took a punch at him. Such an action will never convince anybody that the story is true. Aldrin, of course, knows the truth but how to convince anyone else? If it is a conspiracy, I’ve never heard of any of the participants breaking rank and admitting it.

        These men went on a mission to the moon—and returned successfully! If we don’t want to trust the word of these astronauts, what other proof could we look for? Well, the original three video tapes of the landing were just sold at Sotheby’s in July of 2019, for $1.82 million—they should be proof.

What other factors are there? Apollo 8 had captured “Earthrise”, from behind the moon. The actual Apollo 11 mission and subsequent landings brought back lunar rocks and dust with some minerals distinctive from earth’s. There are also “retroreflector” arrays mounted on the moon, that can bounce a laser beam back to earth. So, the landings are authentic!

        This brings us to another expedition, one planned in the dateless past and executed 2000 years ago. A string of quotations can outline the mission:

·         “The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” 1 Jn.4:14.

·         “I have come to do your will, my God.” Heb.10:7

·         “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” Jn.3:14

·         “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Gal.3:13.

·         “It is finished.” Jn.19:30

·         “The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Mat.12:40.

·         “I am going to prepare a place for you.” Jn.14:2.

·         “I am coming to you [my Father] now.” Jn.17:13

·         “He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” Heb.7:27.

·         “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Heb.9:12

·         “He entered heaven itself.” Heb.9:24.

·         “God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.” Acts 10:40.

·         “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.” Jn.20:27.

        This time the expedition wasn’t just “off-planet”—it was into death, a different kind of mission altogether. And the objective wasn’t just scientific investigation or glory for one’s country, it was to offer a sacrifice and get salvation for our souls! Jesus told us where He was going and what He was going for. The question is, did He succeed?

        The answer is a proud, “YES!” Like the lunar expeditions, Jesus has shown us amazing proofs. First of all, of course, we have His own faithful word: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” (Rev.1:18) Then we have other visual proof too. He was confirmed dead by the soldiers, now He is alive. His body was brutalized and torn—His disciples saw it all. Not only that, but Thomas saw the hole in His side, piercing right to His heart. Hundreds saw Him resurrected, then the Apostle Paul saw Him in all His blinding heavenly radiance.

        A few sentences here can hardly convey the dazzling glory of the Resurrection. Every sermon in the New Testament is full of it. But the next question is, “What does it all mean to me?” The Apostle Paul gives the definitive answer in Romans 10:9—

        If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.                     

  

Yes, you will!