October 17, 2022

Acts 1: 3, 7, 8 (NIV)

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.  . . .  He said to them: . . . “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Speaking what one has seen and heard is the essence of witnessing.*

In the movie, Weekend at Bernie’s, two losers are invited for a fun weekend at their boss’s mansion, only to find him dead. Refusing to let a little thing like a dead host spoil their fun, they manage to prop up Bernie’s body so that he appears to be participating in and enjoying their weekend activities.

Jesus’ followers were not like those two guys. Jesus was not a dead boss but a living Savior. They saw him, touched him, spoke to him, and listened to him – all after his crucifixion and resurrection. There is as much proof that he is alive again as there is that any other historical figure lived at all.

How do you know that Alexander the Great created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, from Greece to Egypt, to India and Pakistan; and that he was undefeated in battle and is considered one of history’s most successful military commanders? I know it because I read it in Wikipedia. The people at Wikipedia know it because they consulted sources who saw him, touched him, spoke to him and listened to him. The difference is, although Alexander is considered to be one of the most influential people in human history, once he died, his followers were unable to maintain his quest to reach the ends of the world.* Jesus’ followers, in contrast, not only spread his kingdom to the ends of the earth but have kept it alive and vibrant for more than 2,000 years. That kind of campaign can’t be sustained with a dead leader who has to be propped up by his disciples. A dead king could not inspire his subjects to endure persecution and torture for the sake of the kingdom.

And a dead king cannot leave his Holy Spirit to empower his followers to reach the world with his message of hope and salvation. Accept the testimony of the eyewitnesses. Believe the testimony of the Holy Spirit. We serve a risen Savior! He has made us victorious!

Our Lord’s resurrection is not merely an historical event; it is a history-making event.*