I once was dead. Fearful, restless, and dissatisfied, I searched for life. I’d heard powerful preaching, but faith eluded me. Many trips to the altar waiting to “feel” saved left me void of salvation. Finally, I surrendered with an unspoken plea, Lord if you don’t save me, I’ll go to hell. The peace that passed understanding flooded my living soul.

Only one man made this living possible. Jesus left heaven over two thousand years ago and was born of the Virgin Mary. Lying in a manger of stone was God’s only begotten Son. Peace had come to earth. Not peace on earth as far as the worldly system but peace for the lost souls of dead men.

Jesus’ ministry began thirty years later as he was baptized and turned the water into wine. He walked among people as he opened blinded eyes and caused the deaf to hear. Healing the maimed and halt and those plagued with disease took only one touch from God. Jesus, God in the flesh, healed the sick and gave life to dead men. His finished work on the cross ensured life for dead men of ages past and ages to come.

We can only imagine what it would have been like to witness these three years of Jesus’ ministry. Miracle after miracle caused the word to spread. The seemingly jealous Jews of clout must have felt threatened by this man who challenged their religious practices and their dead hearts. Jesus spoke to their condition in Matthew 23.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleaness.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23: Verses 25-28

Like the Pharisees, I looked good outwardly. Avoiding lots of outward sins like alcohol, drugs, cursing, immodesty, and the party life had been my practice, but living clean outwardly didn’t bring cleansing to my soul. Full of iniquity, I often lied, hated, and demanded my way. Like the religious crowd in Bible times, I was dead inside. His finished work on the cross ensured life for me and all men born spiritually dead. It’s good to be reminded of our human condition when compared to beautiful white headstones marking the graves of dead men. Jesus spoke words to remember especially the words promising life.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24