Who do you say that Jesus is"

"I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Many people disagree about the identity of Jesus Christ.  Many think he was a good moral teacher.  Others might think he was a great prophet similar to Buddha, Mohammed, or others.  Still others might just think he was a loving, compassionate person who was unjustly killed. 
The culture we live in encourages tolerance of any beliefs and denies that there is any absolute truth. People are deceived into thinking that there are many paths that lead to the same God....or many think that they themselves are a god and that everyone is his own god (New Age).  We MUST challenge people to investigate for themselves who exactly Jesus is and examine His claims.  If someone says he/she does not to believe in Christianity, or that Jesus is THE way, truth, and life, we must ask them to examine the facts. 


We also need to examine the facts so that we can be more effective witnesses.  However, we also must not forget that it is not what we know or how we share the gospel, the Holy Spirit is One who convicts and draws people to God! 


Take a moment and pray for the people in your life who do not know Jesus. 

The Hallucination Theory

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, , that he was buried that he was raised on the third day.  In accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then in the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen sleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles"  I Corinthians 15:3-7

Following the mini-series on evidence for the resurrection, one of the theories that has been examined is a theory that asserts that people just hallucinated about seeing the risen Jesus.  However, this theory is preposterous just based on the above Scripture.


Webster's Dictionary defines hallucination as an "unfounded or mistaken impression or nation--a delusion."  There is no way that five hundred people could have the same delusion.  It would be impossible for several different people to have the exact same delusion, but it would be totally impossible for over five hundred people to have the same hallucination.


Also, if the disciples were hallucinating about seeing the risen Christ, then that would still leave the problem of the empty tomb.  There would have to be some kind of explanation for Jesus' body not being in the tomb. All anyone would have to do would be to produce his body to disprove the resurrection. 


Clearly, we serve a risen  Savior!

Proof of the Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:17, 20:  "If Christ has not been raised, or faith is futile and you are still in your sins.. . But in fact Christ has been raised frm the dead."

With Easter coming up, I think it is important to equip the ladies in our ministries with the proof of the resurrection since that is the crux of the Christian faith.  Jesus was crucified, died on the cross, and resurrected three days later.  Even Josephus and the Jewish Talmud confirm Jesus' crucifixion.  Since it is so crucial, then it is important to give the objections to it and the evidence for it.  Throughout April, we will take a brief look at some of the theories.


The Swoon Theory asserts that Jesus really just fainted on the cross and only appeared to be dead.  Then Jesus recuperated in the tomb, recovered, and got out.  However, Jesus not only would have had to survive the crucifixion, but would have had to survive the torturous scourging, all the beatings, loss of blood, and piercings of the sword to the heart and lung.  Then he would have had to push away a heavy stone, nd get past Roman guards, walk down the road of Emmaus with strips of cloth soaked in blood, find the disciples, walk through the walls of the room, and convince depressed and disillusioned disciples that all was well, who would in turn be willing to die for a lie. 

This theory not only gives an absurd reason for the empty tomb, but it means that Jesus would have completely deceived everyone to believing that he was the Son of God.  This would go against every facet of his character and teaching.  Therefore, the Swoon Theory has no validity whatsoever and raises more questions than proof.

Next week:  The Stolen Body Theory

Handling Obstacles in Evangelism

There are several things to keep in mind when dealing with excuses.
First of all, don't be intimidated. After two thousand years, no one is going to think of the question that will destroy the Christian faith. Then remember the following:

• An excuse frequently hides the real reason. Ask them questions to clarify the real issue.
  
• Avoid an argument. You can win a debate but lose a person to Christ.


• Exemplify Christ-like behavior at all times. Be humble!


• Present the entire gospel if at all possible. People are not converted by our answers, but by the power of the gospel.


• Trust the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember to separate your role and God's role.


• If the person rejects, try to give her something to take with her to read. She may pick it up at a later time and be open to the gospel.


• Don't get sidetracked, but always point people back to Jesus Christ.

Lord, give us all boldness and wisdom to make the most of every opportunity to share You with others.

Dealing With Excuses and Obstacles in Evangelism

"A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready. But they all alike began to make excuses" Luke 14:16-18).

In dealing with excuses we must first consider WHY people make excuses. First it could be a defense mechanism. Some people don't want to admit that they may have a need for Christ in their life. Secondly, it could be a stalling technique to try to put off the conversation that might make them have to confront the truth. Thirdly, it could be an unwillingness to forsake sin. They may realize that if they accept the truth, that they would have to make some significant changes in the way that they live. Then, fourthly, it could be that they have some legitimate questions--an honest expression of doubt and confusion.

Francis Schaeffer says in the book Reaching All, "It is not more spiritual to believe without asking questions. It is not more biblical. It is less biblical and eventually will be less spiritual because the whole man will not be involved." Faith in Jesus is NOT a leap in the dark. John Stott says: "We cannot pander to man's intellectual arrogance, but we must cater to his intellectual integrity."

As we consider WHY people make excuses, we must never think that someone is too far away from God to be reconciled to Him. Sometimes those who seem to be the farthest away are really the closest to the kingdom. As we look at people's lives, we must remember that ALL things are possible with God and that it is ONLY by His grace that we are His children.

"Lord, thank You for your unspeakable gift."

Appearances of Jesus After the Resurrection

"So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me'" (Matthew 28:8-10)

The appearances of Jesus to to others give further proof to the validity of His resurrection (the crux of the Christian faith!). He appeared to the women at the tomb in the above passage, Mary Magdalene, Cleopas and another disciple, to all twelve disciples at various times, and to over five hundred witnesses at his ascension.

• These appearances could NOT have been hallucinations because that many people do not ever have the exact same hallucination.


• There was not enough time for this to become a legend.


• "Even the more skeptical historians agree that for primitive...the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was a real event in history, the very foundation of faith, and not a mythical idea arising out of the creative imagination of believers" (Carl Braaten as quoted in The Cast for Christ by Lee Stroebel, p. 240)


• Nothing fits all the evidence better than the explanation that Jesus was alive" (Stroebel, p. 240)
  

"Lord, let us all firmly grasp the evidence of the resurrection and share that exciting news with others."

Could Someone Have Stolen Jesus' Body?

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus" (Luke 24:1-3).

The empty tomb is crucial to the Christian faith. In fact, it is "the proof of his triumph over sin and death...It's the basis of Christian hope. It's the miracle of all miracles" (The Case for Christ, Lee Stroebel, p. 206). No one could have taken his body.

• He was absolutely buried in the tomb. The empty tomb is mentioned in Mark which was written too soon after the resurrection that the idea could have become a legend.
• The stone would have taken several men to actually open it.
• Roman guards at the tomb would have lost their lives over the body being stolen.
• Since women did not have a strong standing in society, if someone were to make up the story about someone stealing the body, they would not have chosen women to have been the first to find the empty tomb.
• If the tomb were not empty, the lives of the disciples would not have changed from scared, depressed men to bold preachers who were willing to give their lives for the truth of the gospel.
• History shows that no one thought that Jesus' body was still in the tomb; the question was always, "What happened to the body?"
• "As long as the existence of God is even possible, it's possible that he acted in history by raising Jesus from the dead" (William Craig as quoted in The Case for Christ by Lee Stroebel, p. 222)

Lord, thank You for your victory over death. Produce in us the same boldness the disciples had knowing the truth and power of the resurrection.

Defend Your Faith

• 
  
  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your MIND." (Matt. 22:37)
  As leaders in our churches, we need to help ladies be prepared to defend their faith as well as share their faith. This summer I will spend each Friday giving short tips on how to defend our faith. Since the crucifixion and resurrection are the pillars of the Christian faith we will start there: "Was Jesus really dead on the cross, or could he just have faked it?"
  
  Jesus was in serious physical condition before he was even put
  up on the cross.
• Roman floggings were known to be severe and often caused death
  before the crucifixion.
• The 'floggers' used leather whips with metal balls and pieces
  of sharp bones.
• The whipping could tear the muscles and often exposed the
  veins.
• The "nails' driven through Jesus' wrists and feet were actually
  spikes that were 5-7 inches long. (It was not the palm of his hand because his
  body would have ripped the flesh off.)
• In order to breath the person had to push himself up, which
  eventually would cause Him to be too tired to breath any more. This would lead
  to cardiac arrest.
• To make sure Jesus was dead, soldiers would put a spear into
  his side. Water and blood would come out. This proved his death without a
  doubt!!! (to be continued next week)
  References: Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh mcDowell; The Case For Faith by Lee Stroebel