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He Lives! NOT He Lives?

In the current issue of Newsweek, the author of "How Jesus Became Christ" examines various aspects of Jesus' life, teaching, death, and resurrection. The author is no stranger to the Scriptures. He uses extensive Bible quotation. He makes his points articulately. His article, however, suffers from the same problem found in almost any article about Jesus found in a news magazine. The problem in one word is DOUBT.

Is Jesus God? It all depends on your interpretation. Did Jesus rise from the dead? His followers believe that He did. Network TV documentaries about the life of Jesus frequently come to about the same conclusion. That conclusion is to make no definite conclusion concerning the person of Jesus.

Who is Jesus? Some say this and some say that. Simon Peter was once asked by Jesus, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" He gave an answer that sounded like something you might read in a magazine feature article about Jesus. "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Mt.16:14 After hearing such a fuzzy, confused answer regarding his identity Jesus asked Peter again, this time more directly and personally, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God." Jesus was building in Peter a faith that was clear and confident, not one of a thousand question marks.

Daily we read of people who die far away and of those who die in our community. Arnold, an elderly gentleman who lives at Bethesda once told me something very bluntly after a funeral. Gesturing toward an exit he said, "Those are the doors they take you out when you are dead!" He didn't say it with a question mark. He said it with an exclamation point. And he was absolutely right. He's attended funerals so many times. Arnold believes in the reality of death and so do I. It's very real. What we need in the face of sure and certain death is a confidence even more certain that we will live even if we die.

The Bible presents Jesus' resurrection from the dead as fact. Every last follower of Jesus was an unbeliever on Easter morning. Their only confidence and certainty was that Jesus' body would be right where they left it. But all that changed in a day. On Easter dawn, first the women and then the men came to the tomb. Disbelief, fear, amazement, and a host of other thoughts and emotions raced through their minds as they physically raced back and forth from the grave. The words of the angels proclaiming His resurrection were soon verified as personal encounters with the living Jesus began to mount. By Easter eve Jesus had been seen by many eyewitnesses. Even doubting Thomas regained his lost faith when he met the risen Jesus face to face a week later. Jesus left absolutely no doubt and the Bible leaves absolutely no doubt: HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Reading about Jesus in a magazine and reading about Jesus in the Bible have different effects on us. One calls us to question, the other calls us to believe. This Easter let the Holy Spirit fortify your faith as you read and listen to what the Bible makes clear and certain. Jesus is alive.

John 20:31

"These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."