The First Unbelievers
Israel Early First Century
Scriptures record and tell us that most of the people in the Promised Land saw Jesus walked and talked and perform miracles but only a few really listened, believed and followed Him. On Sunday after Jesus was executed, some of the women followers of Jesus went to his tomb and something astonishing was recorded to have happened.
Let us read about this from the writings of Luke the physician.
Scriptures record and tell us that most of the people in the Promised Land saw Jesus walked and talked and perform miracles but only a few really listened, believed and followed Him. On Sunday after Jesus was executed, some of the women followers of Jesus went to his tomb and something astonishing was recorded to have happened.
Let us read about this from the writings of Luke the physician.
From Luke 24 (Contemporary English)
Jesus Is Alive
The Empty Tomb
Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices that they had prepared. When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think.
Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. The women were afraid and bowed to the ground.
But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, ’The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.’ “
Then they remembered what Jesus had said.
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women were the ones who had gone to the tomb. When they returned, they told the eleven apostles and the others what had happened. The apostles thought it was all nonsense, and they would not believe.
But Peter ran to the tomb. And when he stooped down and looked in, he saw only the burial clothes. Then he returned, wondering what had happened. (highlight mine)
If you do not believe in Jesus or the bible then take heart, you are not alone, in fact you are in good company.
Even the very followers of Jesus didn't believe in Him. Scriptures tell us that after the resurrection of Jesus they were the very first unbelievers of the good news (or the gospel) or everything that Jesus taught them when He was still with them.
Jesus came back to life, just as He have told them beforehand. And each passing day, things that Jesus have told them when He was still with them, started happening before their eyes, one by one.
Not that it wasn't normal not to believe Jesus, it was pretty normal not to. When Jesus was still alive and walking among them, it was the church leaders and the rulers and those who were too busy about one thing or another wouldn't believe Him.
In time, people started doubted the very existence of Jesus and doubted if He really was a real man who really walked the earth.
Some have theorized that He didn't die on the cross and that He was whisked away and lived His life secretly -- even getting married and having children.
Some who knew about His story, said that His followers went to His tomb in the middle of the night and stole His dead body and fabricated this story that He came back to life. And most just forgot about Him and His story.
The thing is, at the time of His death and burial, His followers didn't even believe Him.
They didn't even believe that He would and did in fact come back to life, even after they saw the empty tomb with their very eyes.
They couldn't even think about stealing His body (even if they could figure out a way to do it). They were too scared that they would be the next in line to suffer the same fate as Jesus did. And they were too dumbstruck to think that they would have believed in this man who they followed day and night for the last three and a half years of their life. They were in many ways, just like we are.
They didn't believe.
Well, at least initially they didn't. But something happened that turned everything around for them and they did. And when they did, they themselves also did things to turn the world upside down, just like Jesus have told them they would.
What it is, is for you and me to find out.
Aren't you just a little bit curious?
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| The Empty Tomb |
Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices that they had prepared. When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think.
Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. The women were afraid and bowed to the ground.
But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, ’The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.’ “
Then they remembered what Jesus had said.
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women were the ones who had gone to the tomb. When they returned, they told the eleven apostles and the others what had happened. The apostles thought it was all nonsense, and they would not believe.
But Peter ran to the tomb. And when he stooped down and looked in, he saw only the burial clothes. Then he returned, wondering what had happened. (highlight mine)
If you do not believe in Jesus or the bible then take heart, you are not alone, in fact you are in good company.
Even the very followers of Jesus didn't believe in Him. Scriptures tell us that after the resurrection of Jesus they were the very first unbelievers of the good news (or the gospel) or everything that Jesus taught them when He was still with them.
Jesus came back to life, just as He have told them beforehand. And each passing day, things that Jesus have told them when He was still with them, started happening before their eyes, one by one.
Even the very followers of Jesus didn't believe in Him. Scriptures tell us that after the resurrection of Jesus they were the very first unbelievers of the good news (or the gospel) or everything that Jesus taught them when He was still with them.
Jesus came back to life, just as He have told them beforehand. And each passing day, things that Jesus have told them when He was still with them, started happening before their eyes, one by one.
Not that it wasn't normal not to believe Jesus, it was pretty normal not to. When Jesus was still alive and walking among them, it was the church leaders and the rulers and those who were too busy about one thing or another wouldn't believe Him.
In time, people started doubted the very existence of Jesus and doubted if He really was a real man who really walked the earth.
Some have theorized that He didn't die on the cross and that He was whisked away and lived His life secretly -- even getting married and having children.
Some who knew about His story, said that His followers went to His tomb in the middle of the night and stole His dead body and fabricated this story that He came back to life. And most just forgot about Him and His story.
Some have theorized that He didn't die on the cross and that He was whisked away and lived His life secretly -- even getting married and having children.
Some who knew about His story, said that His followers went to His tomb in the middle of the night and stole His dead body and fabricated this story that He came back to life. And most just forgot about Him and His story.
The thing is, at the time of His death and burial, His followers didn't even believe Him.
They didn't even believe that He would and did in fact come back to life, even after they saw the empty tomb with their very eyes.
They couldn't even think about stealing His body (even if they could figure out a way to do it). They were too scared that they would be the next in line to suffer the same fate as Jesus did. And they were too dumbstruck to think that they would have believed in this man who they followed day and night for the last three and a half years of their life. They were in many ways, just like we are.
They didn't even believe that He would and did in fact come back to life, even after they saw the empty tomb with their very eyes.
They couldn't even think about stealing His body (even if they could figure out a way to do it). They were too scared that they would be the next in line to suffer the same fate as Jesus did. And they were too dumbstruck to think that they would have believed in this man who they followed day and night for the last three and a half years of their life. They were in many ways, just like we are.
They didn't believe.
Well, at least initially they didn't. But something happened that turned everything around for them and they did. And when they did, they themselves also did things to turn the world upside down, just like Jesus have told them they would.
Well, at least initially they didn't. But something happened that turned everything around for them and they did. And when they did, they themselves also did things to turn the world upside down, just like Jesus have told them they would.
Aren't you just a little bit curious?
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