Friends in Christ,
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Our faith tells us that Jesus is the Lord and Messiah—something that even his own townsfolk could not believe. If they had a hard time accepting Jesus, what about us? Unlike them, our faith has to be based upon what we have not seen or heard. However, while we are not eyewitnesses as the Nazarenes were, we do have some very solid evidence that can help bolster our faith and our hope.
First, Roman soldiers were ordered to guard the tomb of Jesus. The penalty for any guard who might fall asleep while on watch was death. So there was no way that a disciple could tamper with the tomb or remove the body of Jesus.
Second, three days later, Jesus’ tomb was found to be empty—exactly as he predicted. The huge stone that had blocked the tomb was rolled away. The guards, all toughened soldiers, were scared to death. It appears that even they fainted in the presence of the risen Jesus (Matthew 28:4).
Third, many witnesses, including Peter, James, Mary Magdalene, and some five hundred other disciples—many of whom were still alive twenty years after Jesus had died—gave unswerving testimony that they had seen Jesus after he had risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
Fourth, according to St. Paul: If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he . . . will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you (Romans 8:11). In simpler words, people who have invited the Holy Spirit into their lives have come to know the power of God and the presence of the risen Christ through personal experience.
It must be true! Jesus has risen from the dead! Jesus predicted it. From age to age, people have testified to it. And even today, both believers and the Holy Spirit himself continue to testify to it. So place your hope in Jesus. He will not fail you. Make the decision today to give your life to him, and watch him prove himself to you all over again.
Jesus, you are my Lord.
Our faith tells us that Jesus is the Lord and Messiah—something that even his own townsfolk could not believe. If they had a hard time accepting Jesus, what about us? Unlike them, our faith has to be based upon what we have not seen or heard. However, while we are not eyewitnesses as the Nazarenes were, we do have some very solid evidence that can help bolster our faith and our hope.
First, Roman soldiers were ordered to guard the tomb of Jesus. The penalty for any guard who might fall asleep while on watch was death. So there was no way that a disciple could tamper with the tomb or remove the body of Jesus.
Second, three days later, Jesus’ tomb was found to be empty—exactly as he predicted. The huge stone that had blocked the tomb was rolled away. The guards, all toughened soldiers, were scared to death. It appears that even they fainted in the presence of the risen Jesus (Matthew 28:4).
Third, many witnesses, including Peter, James, Mary Magdalene, and some five hundred other disciples—many of whom were still alive twenty years after Jesus had died—gave unswerving testimony that they had seen Jesus after he had risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
Fourth, according to St. Paul: If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he . . . will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you (Romans 8:11). In simpler words, people who have invited the Holy Spirit into their lives have come to know the power of God and the presence of the risen Christ through personal experience.
It must be true! Jesus has risen from the dead! Jesus predicted it. From age to age, people have testified to it. And even today, both believers and the Holy Spirit himself continue to testify to it. So place your hope in Jesus. He will not fail you. Make the decision today to give your life to him, and watch him prove himself to you all over again.
Jesus, you are my Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Have a good week,
Ed
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