SO THERE was this young Jewish prophet, name of Jesus. Lived around 2,000 years ago. He got Himself into trouble with the religious bosses of His day through some of the things He did and said. Forgiving sins. Healing. Letting people worship Him. (Who did he think He was, God?)

So they handed Him over to the Romans who executed Him by the particularly gory method of crucifixion. End of story. That much is history.

But was that the end of the story? Because if it was there is very, very little chance that you'd have ever heard of Jesus (and even less chance that you'd be reading a newspaper all about Him 2,000 years later). Thousands of rebel Jews were mercilessly slaughtered by the Romans in that troubled period of history, many by crucifixion. Jesus was just one more.

Except He wasn't. Because His followers claimed He came back from the dead, gloriously and forever alive.

Now, if Jesus' enemies had wanted to poop the party, it should have been easy: produce the body. But they never did. His body had gone. So they put it about that Jesus' followers had nicked it (somehow they got past the Roman guard of military professionals who would be executed if the body was stolen). The problem was that Jesus' followers didn't act like guilty liars. Bold as brass, they strode around the Roman Empire saying "Jesus is alive, He's the Son of God, He's beaten death, and to prove it we've seen Him". And they were prepared to die for it.

That's why you're hearing about Jesus today. The Christian Church through the centuries has passed on the message - Jesus is alive. We know Him. He's ruling from heaven - and anyone can experience the forgiveness and healing He brings - today! And that includes you. Don't miss out.

See also: I believe in Friendship Truth God

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