Hesitating To Believe
Part 95 - Luke 24:1-12 (ESV) - Pastor Tim Kroeker
Acts 17:2-3:
“Paul…reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.”
Download Bulletin
Though quickly becoming a thing of the past, supermarket tabloids used to entertain shoppers with sensational headlines like, “Woman Gives Birth to Lizard Baby After Mystery Encounter,” or “Scientists Find Evidence of Atlantis… At the Bottom of Lake Superior,” or “Man Claims His Toaster Can Predict Lottery Numbers.” Today, you no longer have to buy a copy of the National Enquirer to read such headlines. Just scroll your Facebook feed for news that requires the suspension of disbelief.
In the previous episode of our salvation story, Joseph of Arimathea had taken Jesus’ body down from the cross and laid it in a tomb. A group of women prepared some spices and ointments for his burial. But as we continue to read, when they arrived at the tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week, they were surprised to find the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body no longer there.
While they were theorizing about what could have possibly happened, two angels appeared and delivered a mind-blowing message. “He is not here, but has risen.” A dead man rising from the dead is completely contrary to any rational thought. Yet the bodily resurrection of Jesus is foundational to the entire Christian religion. Is this just some fictitious tale?
Our author, Luke, demonstrates that the disciples were not gullible, wide-eyed fanatics looking to invent a story. In fact, they were hesitant to believe, which reinforces the credibility of their report. Pausing, investigating, and verifying the claims of such a dramatic, history-altering event gives insight into the nature of Biblical faith. We should all look and see for ourselves that these things are true.
