What Happened?

Touch Jesus, He is Alive
courtesy photobucket.com

 

Today I gleaned from Pastor Jerry’s sermon, as he mentioned in that time and era, there had been many who preached and claimed to be the Christ, but as they died, they were soon ancient history. 

Preachers come and go.  Jesus was dead and the Romans and his enemies were assured that he also would soon be forgotten. 

The disciples were fearful and discouraged, and they felt all was lost.  They had put much energy into following Jesus, and now they expected his body and the other two bodies to be thrown outside of the city into the land fill where the wild beasts were... 

However, Joseph came and begged the body of Jesus so he could place him in a borrowed tomb.  With a final thrust of a spear into his side, the soldiers were satisfied that Jesus was dead, so they allowed Joseph to take his body.

Pastor Jerry read from John 20:19-31 regarding Jesus appearing before his disciples after His resurrection.  What happened to give the disciples a restoration of their faith? 

Jesus showed them his hands, feet and side, and they marveled that they could touch him.

Then Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” 

Thomas was not with them, and he refused to believe unless he could see and feel Jesus.  When Jesus appeared to them eight days later, Thomas was shocked as Jesus offered him to thrust his hand into his side and other wounds.  Oh my Lord and my God, cried Thomas, but Jesus said, now you believe because you have seen, but blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe.

The disciples began to preach and teach the message of Jesus the Savior and many accepted the Good news.  Those in authority were angry and warned the disciples not to preach in Jesus name, but their reply was, we cannot stop, for we must obey God rather than man.

These disciples and many other believers were willing to lay down their lives, for reality. 

Think about it, if Jesus’ resurrection was a scam, who would be willing to die for a lie? 

Christians today receive the message of Jesus and in ways personal to each one, Jesus reveals himself to them.

Many Christians, through out our world today are martyred, persecuted and are being slaughtered.  What happened to give them this faith? 

The simple answer is because Jesus has made himself known to them in truth as a risen Savior.   We too are witnesses to the fact that Jesus is alive.  Rejoice, He lives!

This post is shared with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays