The idea that people could rise from the dead is beyond belief. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would NOT come back from the grave. So, why would we believe that we would?
Thomas wasn’t the only disciple to doubt Jesus’ resurrection. They all doubted it. So why was Thomas branded the “doubter”… and what difference can that make to us?
How might it have impacted you to witness the events of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death, and resurrection? Consider the warning of the Roman soldier as Scott Jewell presents our Easter message.
The famous opponent of Christianity – Voltaire – actually believed the dead could be raised. He believed in a famous scientist of the day who maintained he had done just that. Voltaire rejected Jesus and His real resurrection and embraced a scientist and his false claim.
When Jesus died, no one expected Him to rise from the dead. But if you don’t believe Jesus is coming back from the dead, what do you do with a dead Jesus?
When Jesus rose from the dead, Thomas got a 5 minute show and tell. By contrast, the 2 men on the road to Emmaus received a 3 hour dissertation. Why the difference? Perhaps Jesus spent more time with these hopeless men, to show us how to have a living Hope in a hopeless world.
There’s a repetitive theme in Scripture: heroes and heroines of the Bible seemingly all go through the process of being given a vision by God, followed by the death of that vision, and ultimately the rebirth of that vision. How did that pattern apply to Jesus and how does it apply to us?
