KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:1-3
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
RELEVANCE
Ever since the birth of Jesus Christ, people have wanted more proof of His existence, healings, miracles, death and resurrection.
Everybody has a take on the evidence, from university professors to dime-a-dozen YouTubers. For them, the Bible's prophecies and eyewitness accounts are insufficient proof.
Institutions over the years have shovelled out financial grants by the thousands for people to either find alternative confirmation or disprove Christ's existence, let alone His power over the demon world, sickness, and pain. Every generation produces carbon-copy doubting arguments as if they are unique. Nothing is new under the sun, including unbelief.
We get to today, two thousand years after Christ's death, and people continue to dispute His power and Kingdom influence and use their sharpened theories to invalidate it for others.
In John 20:24-25, Thomas displayed his own scepticism and, in a sense, the world's scepticism. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
This very scripture hits the heart of the problem. Thomas wasn't present when Jesus showed himself after His resurrection; therefore, he didn't see with his own eyes. Neither did those over the past two millenniums who sought further verification or those today who do the same.
Belief in God's Word is present in every generation, as is unbelief. But what are the believers putting their faith in? They believe in the many infallible proofs the disciples wrote, the same thing unbelievers disbelieve.
The question for both camps and those who struggle to make up their minds is, do they need to see the infallible proofs with their own eyes?
Why is it so important that we see them? Are we such great deciphers of truth that facts must pass our eyes explicitly to be considered trustworthy? Is our opinion so critical to biblical writings that we must be present to authenticate the Word of God? Every person suffers from self-importance at some stage, but when it comes to Bible truthfulness, we don't assess; we are assessed as to whether we believe biblical accounts.
In John 20:29, Jesus responded to Thomas and all unbelievers most sensibly. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
In his unbelieving statement, Thomas is subliminally saying that unbelievers must be present at every biblical incident to accept them because the power of God performed every miracle. Jesus brought some sense to the conversation by saying blessed are those who don't use their sight to see.
The Bible is a faith and belief book written by honourable followers who went before us. Yet, some people accept Wikipedia by faith but argue against God's Word.
The disciples' account is the witness we must believe. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. (Acts 1:21)
We were not witnesses to Christ's first coming, nor were the doubters. However, we may all see His second coming in person if we are alive. At this stage, finding further proof will be unnecessary.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for the disciples' account of Jesus' life and that we can believe their witness. Thank you also for the truth of your word and faith's simplicity.
Photo by Slim Emcee
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