#6. Resurrection of the Aloe Plants

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea,who was one of Jesus' followers … took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock."  (Matthew 27:57-60).

"And Nicodemus came also … bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight … On the first day of the week, very early in the morning while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb, and she saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb." (John 19:39 and 20:1).

Jesus died at 3pm on Friday afternoon, but the Scripture states that Joseph removed the body of Jesus on Friday evening, probably around 5pm. Now, Mary arrived at the tomb early on Sunday morning before dawn, probably round 5am. That means that Jesus was in the tomb for a total of 36 hours.  

What was going on during that period of time in the tomb? Was anyone in the tomb with the body of Jesus? How about Joseph and Nicodemus? Who rolled the stone away? The Gospels do not reveal the answers … or do they?

Nicodemus brought one hundred pounds of aloe and myrrh. That is a huge quantity for one man to carry. Maybe he used a donkey. When was the mixture purchased and prepared? How far did Nicodemus travel to obtain the mixture and bring it to the tomb? And why did he bring so much?

The substance in aloe plants – a thick liquid -- has excellent healing qualities. I have five aloe plants at my home. Occasionally, I break off an inch from the tip of a leaf for medicinal purposes. But what would I do with 100 pounds.

Joe and Nick could literally soak the body of Jesus with only a few pounds of the mixture. Further applications could follow every hour thereafter. This process could be repeated for the 36 hours in the tomb, if Joe and Nick were present to continuously apply the healing solution.

Now, move forward 2000 years. 

A couple of months ago, a horrendous storm drenched my five aloe plants sitting on the railing of my deck. The heat that week also reached 100 degrees. The result was the death of my plants – their skin was completely scorched and discolored. 

My friend took one look and said I could throw them away, for they cannot possibly revive. I silently agreed and grieved my loss. Nevertheless, I later covered their leaves with their own aloe-juice, but did nothing thereafter. 

About six weeks later, the aloe plants had recovered. Their leaves had increased in thickness and their skin had returned to their normal green color. They had risen from the dead (ok, not in three days). Behold, I was the first to see their resurrected bodies -- though I could hardly believe my eyes.

I wonder if Joe and Nick could believe their eyes … when Jesus opened his!

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#5. Reincarnation: Then and Now

“The latest Pew Forum survey of religious beliefs (2009) puts the overall percentage of Americans who believe in reincarnation at 24%.” That is ¼ of the country! WOW! 

The first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus stated that the sect of Pharisees believed in reincarnation. Indeed, many of the Jews 2000 years ago believed in reincarnation, including Jesus. However, he did not use the word reincarnation. Instead, Jesus used the word resurrection. It means: “to rise from the dead” or “to come back to life”. Christians of today interpret it to mean a return to the same physical body. They do not believe or understand reincarnation! Nor did Nicodemus, a Jew in Jesus' day. 

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus stated, “Don't be surprised when I tell you, ‘You must all be born again.’” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can this be?” (John 3:4,7,9). 

Consider that Jesus also taught ‘Eternal Life’. The spirit or soul always was and always shall be. The eternal spirit is drawn back to the earth from the ‘spirit’ realm, incarnating into the embryo, and born as a baby human being. As the sojourn is completed, so ends the human experience. “People are destined to die once" (Hebrews 9:27). After a period of preparation, the eternal spirit, or soul, again is drawn back to the earth into an embryo and is born again. When the sojourn is completed, the body dies – destined to die just one time. 

If this process should seem so unbelievable, consider Jesus. He left heaven, entered into the embryo, was birthed in 9 months, died at 33 years, then returned to heaven. “I came out from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (John 16:28). Why is the word again there? Again and again, Jesus left the world and returned to the Spirit realm. If Jesus can do it, then we all can do it. It’s a piece of cake. 

Such is indicated in this story: 

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, ‘Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither’” (John 9:1-3).

How could the man have sinned before he was ever born? Obviously, the disciples question shows clearly that the disciples of Jesus believed the man born blind had lived before. This would have been a perfect opportunity for Jesus to pooh-pooh the doctrine of reincarnation, if he did not adhere to it. 

Jesus was quite explicit about reincarnation in his reference to John the Baptist.

“And if you are willing to accept it, he (John the Baptist) is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 11:14-15). 

Do you believe in reincarnation ... now? And did you believe in reincarnation ... the last time? 

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#4. God Spoke To Me

Are you surprised when a person declares to you, “God spoke to me and said that . . .” ? I am! We might ask them how they know it was really God speaking to them. Or we may merely snicker, wondering if they are mentally imbalanced. But are you aware that some of the world religions began with just such a statement? Read my story and then respond with a comment.

Mosek told his brother Eron that god spoke to him on the hill. Eron said, “Really? god talked to you on the hill??? Uh, what did he say, brother of mine?”

Mosek said that god was giving our family a farm flowing with cream and sugar. Eron asked, “Really? Where is this farm?”Mosek said that the farm is owned by our neighbors, Helen and Samuel and their 15 kids, and that we will inherit it. Eron asked, “Really? When are Helen and Samuel and their 15 kids leaving the farm so we can possess it?”

Mosek said that Helen and Samuel and their 15 kids are not leaving the farm, but god said we have to first go kill them and then we can have the farm that god is giving us as our inheritance.

Eron asked, “Really? “Really? Listen here, Mosek! How do you know if it was really god that talked with you on the hill? What did god look like?” Mosek said that it really was god, but he doesn’t know what he looks like because when god appeared to him on the hill, he was masquerading.

Eron asked, “Really? Then how do you know it was really god? Mosek said it really was god because he was masquerading as a Bush!

“Oh!” said Eron, “now I believe that god was really talking to you on the hill! Let’s go kill Helen and Samuel and their 15 kids and we’ll inherit the farm that our god is giving us.”

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#3. Parable of the Prodigal Daughter

(I was surprised to find this story in my files. I have no idea how it got there! In chapter 15 of Luke's Gospel you can read the male counterpart as told by Jesus. Obviously, he had intended to tell a tale of the prodigal daughter, but I suppose Jesus misplaced it in my files. Fortunately, I found it and am delighted to share it with you. Enjoy!)

A woman had two beautiful daughters. They lived in a small town in rural Illinois. The older daughter was little Miss Perfect, but the younger daughter was stubborn and as rebellious as all get out. One day the younger daughter had a fight with her mother. She became really angry, yelling at her, "I'm not going to live in this house one more minute!" And she packed up her belongings and took a bus to the very large city far, far away.

But the young girl experienced great challenges in the city. It was not easy to make a go of it. Jobs were few and far between. Besides, she spent all her time partying and wasting away her potential for success. Finally she became so desperate that she decided to let a pimp turn her into a prostitute. Her self-esteem had reached an all-time low. She became so miserable and felt so ashamed.

Finally, you guessed it, she reached her rock bottom and came to her senses. She was thinking about her Mom and sister at home and realized how good and wholesome her life had been there. She exclaimed to herself, "Here I am -- a total loser! I never thought I would say this, but I'm going to return to my home, and I will say: 'Mom, I have let you down. I have totally messed up my life. Can I please come home to stay with you and Sis?'"

And the younger daughter did catch a bus for home. The driver dropped her off just a few blocks from her street. And while she was nearing the house, her Mother saw her coming. She had been watching from the kitchen window. She was filled with loving compassion and ran out into the yard to greet her daughter. And she embraced her and she kissed her. And her daughter exclaimed to her, "Mom! I have let you down. I have totally messed up my life. Can I please come home to stay with you and Sis?"

But her mother said, "Of course, my dear. Your sister will be so excited to see you, Honey. Quick, come in and put on this beautiful dress I made for you. And I want you to put on these pearl earrings that belonged to your grandmother. And, oh! look at these elegant shoes I purchased just for you. We're going to celebrate with a grand party. You are my precious daughter! You were so lost, my dear, but now you have found yourself. Let's celebrate!"

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