Poster Archive : APRIL 2010
Message: He's Alive
Bible verse: Mark 16:6 ""Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."
In 1937 a sailor called Frank Jenner left behind a life of addiction to gambling and became a Christian. Out of sheer thankfulness to God, Frank promised from then on to speak every day to ten people about eternal life.
Everyday, for 28 years, usually on George Street in Sydney, Frank would politely offer people a tract and ask: "If you were to die tonight, where would you be, in heaven or in hell?". All told, Frank spoke to more than 100,000 people until his health deteriorated.
Frank spoke to tourists and visitors from all over the world. People from India to England, from the West Indies to the U.S. were approached by Frank. And they couldn't get his words out of their heads. Many went back to their countries and became Christians.
Incredibly Frank had no idea until near the end of his life that his words had made such an impact around the world. Two weeks before he died, he was visited by an English minister who had met people all around the globe who'd become Christians because they'd spoken to Frank in George Street, Sydney.
The Bible states that after Jesus was crucified his body was laid in a tomb and the tomb sealed. Three days later a group of women went to the tomb but found it empty except for two men in bright clothing. According to the book of Mark in the Bible, one of the men told the women: "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him."
After Jesus rose He appeared in the flesh to more than 500 witnesses before ascending to heaven.
There's one reason that drove Frank Jenner to spend his time talking to people. He had Christian hope. And the centre of his hope was that Jesus rose from the dead.
This is because the resurrection of Jesus is the lynchpin to the huge claims Jesus made about forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. When Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified, the world saw that God can deliver on his promises. We can be forgiven our sins and there is certainly life after death. The great news is that those who know Jesus will be with God in Heaven forever.
So, if you were to die tonight, where would you be? In heaven or in hell?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want to accept your promise of eternal life. Help my doubt and teach me your ways, so I will never have to fear death again. Amen.
