72-Thomas-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Thomas
SINKING SHIP

February AD 30
Somewhere in Perea

�� Fighting storms in the merchant marines was nothing compared with the storms Jesus has created single-handedly.� Setting fires to enemy ships was nothing compared with the fires Jesus has set in the hearts of commoners.� Manning the oars to go the distance at sea was nothing compared with the spiritual distances Jesus is taking Thomas.

�� "Thanks for taking us in, Tamar," Thomas says.� "Thirteen guys isn't easy to make room for.� Besides, it's getting more and more dangerous to be seen with us." [1] �

�� "Yes, thanks, Tamar.� We really appreciate this," John adds.

�� "You will be glad you helped us out someday," Simon reassures.� "What Jesus is doing will restore the greatness of Palestine.

�� "But from now on we're going to have to be careful.� We can't show ourselves around Jerusalem any more.� At least, not until Jesus is ready for the takeover." [2]

�� "Is it really that dangerous now, Thomas?" Tamar asks, already knowing the answer but hoping for a rebuttal.

�� "Yes, it is.� They've tried to assassinate Jesus several times.� It started two years ago on our second trip to Jerusalem it was common knowledge that the religious leaders were trying to kill him." [3]

�� "So, did he take more precautions?" Tamar asks.

�� "Last fall he walked right into the lion's den," says Judas.� "He went right back to Jerusalem.� As usual, he told the truth and made everyone mad.� They tried to assassinate him right there in public, but he caught them red handed and faced them down.� So later they tried to arrest him and kill him away from the public eye.� He got away then too and went up into Perea. [4]

�� "So now we're here.� And, thanks to my sister, she's going to take good care of us awhile until we're ready to move on."

�� Everyone gets up and heads to the three rooms Tamar has ready for them.� Thomas stays and goes into the kitchen with Tamar.� It is midnight.�

�� "Tamar, he's the Deliverer!� He's the one who was predicted for thousands of years.� He's the one!� I'm willing to bet my life on it."

�� "That again?" Tamar responds nervously.

�� "All this talk reminds me of when you first joined the merchant marines before we ever heard of Jesus....

�� "Remember when you announced you were going all the way to Gaul?"� She laughs.� "Mother thought sure you would fall off the edge of the world."

�� "But I didn't, did I?" he laughs.

�� She grows serious.� "How many times did you tell us if and when your time came to die for a good cause, you wouldn't hesitate?"

�� "I'd die for Jesus," Thomas replies broodingly.

�� "He means that much to you?"

�� "I'm convinced he was sent by God, and is part God somehow."

�� "So here we are!" she says running from her fears for her twin brother.� "I moved to Perea, Amos ended up in Decapolis, and after you quit the ships, you moved to Galilee.� We're sure far from the sunny coast of Syria and Mother."

�� "Well, I'd better get to bed.� Jesus is always full of surprises.� See you in the morning."They embrace and Thomas heads upstairs to the bedrooms.

�� The next morning before breakfast, the men show up with their packs and set them by the front gate.

�� "What's going on?� Are you leaving?"

�� "We've decided it's not safe for you with us here," Thomas explains.� "We're going to a hostel."

�� "Which one?"

�� "Can't tell you that.� It would be better if you did not know."

�� "Kind of like your merchant marine days.� You're out there somewhere," Tamar helps her brother explain.� She fights back her tears bravely.� But not bravely enough.

�� "Come on, Sis.� Be a trooper!"

�� "No matter what happens, it will be for the good of our nation!"

�� "And you'll never desert your ship."

�� "Right, Sis.� I'll never desert my ship."

�� Several days later while in their hostel, they receive word that their loyal friend over in Bethany is extremely sick.� Jesus decides not to go there and heal him.� That is good thinking.� Bethany is much too close to Jerusalem for comfort.� Healing him could very possibly mean Jesus' own death.� Can't lead the people dead, you know. [5]

�� Indeed, it looks like Jesus is going to heal him long distance like he has some others.� "He will not die," Jesus tells them later.� "He is going through this so the Son of God will be honored." [6]

�� Three days later at dinner Jesus is quiet again.� They do not understand.� Didn't he say that Lazarus would not die?� Why the gloomy look?� But they do not argue.� Sometimes they just don't understand Jesus. [7]

�� The following morning after breakfast, he calls them all into his room.� "It's time to return close to Jerusalem."

�� "Now wait, Jesus," Philip objects.� "We thought we had all this worked out.� You weren't going to get any closer than this.� That's why we've been here four days."

�� "Are you out of your mind, Jesus?" Matthew asks indignantly.� "They're trying to kill you." [8]

�� "Our friend, Lazarus, is sleeping now.� I'm going to go to him and wake him up."

�� "Hey, that's great, Jesus.� Sleep is good.� He's on his way to recovery.� He'll be fine.� That's good news. [9]

�� "You don't understand, guys," he explains quietly.� "Lazarus is dead.� I didn't want to be there when it happened.� Now you'll believe what transpires next even stronger." [10]

�� They stare at Jesus in disbelief.

�� "Jesus, if you go there now, you'll just get yourself killed," Peter objects.

�� "Besides, you've never brought anyone back to life unless they'd only been dead a few hours," James, Jr. announces as though Jesus did not know this.� "What's going on?"

�� As they continue to stare at Jesus, they know they are also staring at death.� If they go with him, they know he will be killed.� They know they will be killed too.� Each turns inward.� Before, it was just a possibility.� Now, it's a reality.� Their own deaths.

�� Sometimes they look over at Peter.� The Peter who's always the first to declare his undying loyalty.� But Peter remains silent. [11]

�� How about James and John who have suggested they torch Jesus' enemies?� What do they think of this whole thing? [12]

�� Thomas stirs.� He remembers his eight years of merchant marine duty and his training to stay with the ship, even if it goes down.� He, above all the others, understands what that means.� He remembers all the times he'd vowed never to desert his ship.

�� Slapping his knee with his fist, he stands up.� He stares at the others.� Intently.

�� "What are we?� A bunch of cowards?� Turncoats?� Miserable traitors to our cause?� Are we going to stand by while Jesus faces the enemy alone?� You know he's going to go whether or not we do.� Let us go with him!� We will die with Jesus, standing loyally at our posts!" [13]

Wednesday, about April 13, AD 30
Jerusalem, Judea

�� "What are you waiting for, Jesus?� Why didn't you take control last Sunday when the whole city of Jerusalem lined the streets and declared you king?� The Sanhedrin doesn't dare have you assassinated now.� What's going on?" [14]

�� They are done eating. �Jesus is not acting right.� He has just told them the bread they ate represents his body that they should eat, and the wine they just drank represents his blood that they should drink. [15]

�� Now he's talking about going away.� Has he decided to go into self-imposed exile?� Has he decided to return when things cool down and then take over?� What is he talking about?

�� "While I am gone, I want you to love each other.� That's an order."

�� "Where are you going?" Peter asks.� They want to go with him.

�� "You can't go with me now.� Later you can.� But not now." [16]

�� "But why?" Peter objects.� "No matter how dangerous it is, I'll go with you and defend you.� I'll lay my life on the line for you."

�� "Don't be so sure, Peter.� Before this night ends, you'll deny you even know me three times."

�� "Never, Jesus.� Never in a thousand years." [17]

�� The eleven remaining men look at each other.� They think about Judas who has left.� Jesus accused him of betraying him too.� But it will never happen.� All twelve of them are loyal through and through.� Haven't they already proven that? Jesus, this time you're wrong. [18]

�� But where is he going?� Why this sudden change in plans?

�� "Don't be upset.� Just trust me.� While I'm gone I'm going to prepare places for all of you to stay." [19]

�� Thomas has grown more and more nervous.� Just like the others.� He does not like this plan of Jesus'.� He shouldn't be running off by himself like that.� If he thinks he'll be protecting them by distancing himself from them, he's wrong.� They'll follow anyway.

�� "If we don't know where you're going, how can we follow you there?"

�� "I am the road, just like I'm the map and your very life." [20]

�� Their heads swim.� They hate it when he talks in riddles like that.� They ask a few more questions, then let him talk.� He explains in symbolism, because it is too hard to explain what he's really doing.� Jesus does the best he can to explain the coming events.� His eleven do the best they can to understand.

�� "....I am leaving the world, and I am returning to God."

�� "That's it, Jesus?" Thomas asks.� "Why didn't you say so?� We could live with that.� You're going back to heaven!� We're very happy for you, Jesus."

�� "Eureka!� At last you understand and believe!" [21]

�� Everyone smiles.� Jesus' smile does not last very long.

�� "Actually, before I even go, you are all going to desert me.� But you'll come back.� This will only be the beginning of your troubles because of me.� But be courageous.� I've taken over the world!" [22]

Sunday, about April 17, AD 30

�� "Jesus, can you hear me from the grave?� How can you forgive me?� I deserted the ship.� I didn't even stand beside you when they arrested you.� I just took off running like everyone else." �[23]

�� It's Thomas.� He has turned coward.� He has done what he said he would never do.

�� "Well, I would have stayed if the others had stayed, but....� Oh, Jesus.� That's not true.� I felt as outnumbered with all of us there as I would have had I been the only one to stay."

�� He stands and hits his fist on one of the door facings then puts his forehead on it.� In his shared but private grief.

�� "So what if the others left?� It was different with me.� I was trained to never desert my ship.� I dishonored you.� I dishonored your very name, and everything honorable and good you ever stood for!� That's unforgivable."

�� He sinks to the floor in agony.� Like a coward.

�� "I don't deserve to live.� I deserve only to die, Jesus.� I have shamed you."

�� He draws up his knees and puts his head down on them, wrapping his arms around them both.��

�� "I'm the one who deserved to be on that cross.� Not you, Jesus.� I'm no better than those thieves you were crucified with.� Worse.� I'm worse than them.� They just stole things.� I stole your dignity.� I stole your dream.� I stole your life."

�� He grits his teeth, angry because of the tears that won't stay away.� Just as betraying as the rest of him.�

�� All day the grieving.� Except for the trick the women try to pull on them.� The one where they claim Jesus has come back to life.� How is that supposed to cheer them up?� Can't the women face reality?� Don't they know dead is dead? [24]

�� All day the silence, broken only by groans and unrelenting sobs, and occasional announcements that it's another meal time.

�� Then Peter has hallucinations.� He thinks Jesus has come back alive too.� Everyone else knows better.� They all thought he was sane before, but this has taken him over the edge.� They thought Peter was stronger than that.� It just goes to show. [25]�

�� Still the agony.� The agony of defeat that dives like a torpedo into the chest and blows one's very heart out.� Exploding it in torment, leaving only minute particles of what might have been.� Only traces of a former soldier, a former man.

�� "Everyone, we've got to move.� There's been too many people coming and going.� We're calling attention to ourselves.� We're all going to John Mark's house."

�� It's mid-afternoon.� Maybe Thomas can salvage something.� Maybe he can check around town and see what's going on.� Maybe he can at least learn enough to protect the other ten, and the women.� He can't just sit still.

�� "Uh, I won't be there right away.� I need to make a stop outside of town.� I'll catch up with you later, guys." [26]

"Here's some money in case you're going after more food, what with Judas gone now."� Thomas does not confirm nor deny Matthew's assumption.� It is better no one knows.� For their safety.

�� He leaves.� He takes back streets and works his way out of town.� He is headed for Bethany where his cousin, Hazor, lives.� He was in the merchant marines with him and might have an old uniform still.� He could wear it as a disguise.� Maybe it will get him in places he needs to go.

�� Two hours later Thomas is back in Jerusalem.� He heads for the Temple.� No one thinks to look for one of Jesus' followers wearing a seaman's uniform.

�� He sides up to one of the Temple guards.

�� "Things been quiet since they got him out of the way?"

�� "Oh, you mean Jesus?� Yeah.� Pretty quiet.� The first earthquake did some damage to the Temple, though."

�� "What kind?"

�� "The tapestry that hid the chest of Moses behind the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom."

�� "How could that be?" Thomas replies.� "It was three stories high. [27]� If the earthquake didn't damage anything else in the Temple, how could it have torn the curtain like that?"

�� "We're having trouble keeping people under control.� They keep asking the priests what the sacred golden chest and Moses' Ten Commandments kept behind it look like." [28]

�� Thomas decides to try something else.� He leaves the Temple and walks over to Procurator Pilate's palace.� He stops and sits in the square in front of it.� An apparently off-duty sentry is there.

�� "So, how are the guards doing out at his grave?" Thomas asks matter-of-factly.� "Any grave robbers yet?"� He laughs.

�� "We've been told the grave is empty," the young soldier replies.� "I'm surprised you didn't know."

�� "Well, uh, I was over in Bethany for awhile.� So who took the body?" Thomas asks.

�� "The guards say they fell asleep, and it was stolen.� But that means the death penalty for them.� But, as far as anyone knows, none of them has been arrested." [29]

�� "Sounds like a coverup to me," Thomas replies. [30]

�� "If someone took the body, who would gain by it?� Well, his followers might.� They could say he came back to life then."

�� "That would be a dumb move," Thomas replies.� "What would they gain perpetuating a lie?" [31]

�� "Why all the questions?� I, for one, don't care."

�� "Hey, nice talking to you, buddy."�

�� Thomas makes a quick exit before he arouses any more suspicion, then walks over to the market place.

�� "So, what's the latest word?" he asks a merchant.� He never has to explain himself.� There is only one thing on people's minds these days.

�� "You mean, about Jesus of Nazareth?� I don't know, and furthermore, I don't care."

�� Little by little Thomas makes his way from one possible source of information to another subtly interrogating, like a master spy.� So far no one has caught on to him.� That is good.

�� Thomas decides he had better catch up with his friends before they get worried.� He sees a deserted building, goes inside, takes off his cousin's old uniform, and leaves it behind.

�� On his way back to the house, he remembers Matthew expected him to show up with some food.� He returns to the market and picks up as much as he can carry.

�� "Thomas's back!� Thomas's back!"

�� Thomas walks through the gate amazed in the change in everyone.� They are smiling.� He does not like that.� It is disrespectful to the dead.� It's unconscionable.

�� He glares at everyone, then puts the food on the floor where he stands.� He slams the gate and goes back out to the street to see if he had been followed.� When he returns people's moods are the same, except there seems to be more laughter.

�� "Okay, since you think everything's so funny, I'm just going to drop the food off and leave.� I don't want any part of you!"

�� "But Thomas, he's back!" Thaddeus says.� "He's alive again.� Just like everyone said!"

�� "That's it!� I'm outa here!� You're on your own!"

�� "Come back here," Joanna says grabbing him by the arm.�

�� Matthew closes the gate, bars it and stands in front blocking it.�� "You're not going anywhere until you listen to us, Thomas."

�� Joanna offers him a cushion to sit on.� "Now sit down and hear us out."

�� "We saw him for ourselves, Thomas!" James, Jr. explains.

�� "He's alive again!" Thaddeus announces.

�� "No!� I don't care if everyone in the house saw him.� It's just mass hysteria.� I've seen it before.� It can take over hundreds, even thousands of people."

�� "Thomas, listen to us!"� You're sitting on the very cushion he sat on.� See the fish bones left over in the plate?� Remember how he always ate his fish?"

�� Thomas looks at the plate.� It looks familiar, but anyone could do that.� He is not being fooled again.� He stands up, kicks his cushion across the floor, and walks back to the front gate.

�� "No way, Thomas," Matthew objects.�

�� "Look, he's just a spy in disguise.� He has studied Jesus' mannerisms, even the way he talks.� That spy is good, but he's not that good.� I'll never be taken in by it.� We'd better change locations and do it fast."

�� "We're not leaving, and neither are you.� We're all staying right here until he comes back." [32]

�� "We will have a long wait, then.� Because it will never happen."� Thomas sees he has been outnumbered.

�� Now John is in front of the gate.� "You're not going anywhere," he announces.� "You have to stay."

�� "It won't work.� They'll come back for all of us, I'm telling you," Thomas objects.��

�� "So, what would convince you?" asks Philip.

�� "If I put my finger into his wounds.� Right down in them.� That can't be faked.� Only then would I believe it was really him."

�� "Sound familiar, guys?" Alphaeus asks with a glint in his eye.� "That's what all of you said.� Remember?" [33]

Monday, about April 18, AD 30

�� Thomas has not slept well all night.� He is angry.� His head is full of why, why, why.� There are no answers.� Only the questions.��

�� Why, if Jesus was going to appear to them, would he come when Thomas wasn't around?� But Thomas is thinking like a fool.� Jesus is still dead and gone.� He must get control of his mind.

�� The others leave him alone.� He sits in his chair and stares into nothingness.� He paces.� The others are careful not to smile too much around him.� When they were unbelievers, they didn't want anyone smiling around them either.

�� "He'll come back.� I'm sure he will," Matthew reassures him.�

�� Thomas only mumbles answers to Matthew's questions.� It's not fair.� Well, maybe it is.� He, of all people, he the one who had been trained to stand by his post, deserted it.� Maybe this is his punishment.� In that case, he deserves the punishment.

�� "God, what's going on?"�

�� He sits and paces and stares.� And fights his mixed agony of betrayal, humiliation, and self-hatred.� How could Jesus love him now anyway?

Tuesday, about April 19, AD 30

�� More staring and pacing and wondering.� Sunk in despair like a ship sinking deeper and deeper into the blackness of the unforgiving ocean to an unseeable grave.

�� "Jesus, where are you?" Thomas prays.� "Can you hear me?� Do you have any idea how ashamed I am for deserting the ship?� I vowed I would die for you, but I ran like a coward.� Jesus, where are you?� Can you hear me?� You have no idea how much I want you to hear me."

�� "And something else, Jesus, if you have extra powers with your body now, maybe you can eat or not eat and it doesn't make any difference.� In that case....� In that case....� In that case, you're only part human.� But if you're part human, what else are you?"

�� Go away, Jesus.� Get out of my heart.� You're confusing me.

Wednesday, about April 20, AD 30

�� Still the pacing and sitting and staring and wandering around the house with no where to go.� Time stands still.� Suddenly there is only yesterday.� But no today, and never any tomorrow.

�� "God, he was always talking in symbols.� When he talked about coming back to life the third day, what did he really mean by that?"

�� Thomas continues to sit and try remember everything Jesus said.� He tries desperately to sort through the confusion in his mind as though he's deciphering an enemy's covert message.

�� Three?� What did three mean?� He talked about his Father.� That would be one.� He talked about him being the Son.� That would be two.� His last few hours with us, he talked about a Comforter, God's Spirit, God's Word of Truth..� That would be three.� But if that's what he was talking about, that would make Jesus....� No, that couldn't be.� We knew him too well.

Thursday, about April 11, AD 30

�� "We've got to move today," Peter announces.� I think it would be safe to go back to the house where we were earlier.

�� Everyone gathers up their things and takes turns leaving so as not to be detected.

�� "Thomas, don't get lost on the way."

�� "I'll go with him."� It's Alphaeus.

�� They get settled in.� It's a different place.� But it's the same pacing, the same sitting, the same confused thinking.�

�� In the courtyard, in the eating hall, in the kitchen, on the roof, in one of the bedrooms.� The others leave him alone as much as they can.� But sometimes they try to reassure him.

�� "Be patient, Thomas," Andrew reassures.� "We're sure he'll come back.� It's only been a few days."

�� "Well, he did say we should go back up to Galilee where it was safer and he would meet us there," adds Simon.� "Maybe that's where he is.� But right now, I don't think we could even make it out of town without being detected.� I heard they have roadblocks set up searching for us."

�� "But he's not gone for good," Philip adds.

�� Thomas continues to wonder and ponder, and struggle to figure out just what happened.

�� If Jesus was really able to raise himself from death back to life, what kind of power would that give him?� More power than he had raising others back to life.� That would mean he could self-generate life.� That's not possible.� No one can self-generate life.� Not unless he's....

�� No, that's not possible.

�� "Please, God, I'm so confused.� I can't stand this waiting.� Please help someone find Jesus' body.� I hate those people who took it away.� I'm so tired of trying to figure everything out.� It's drowning me."

Friday, about April 22, AD 30

�� Continued pacing and sitting and wandering.�

�� What happened to his body?� Thomas sneaks out at night and sees the tomb still empty.� Maybe he and everyone else went to the wrong tomb.� But the women saw him actually be buried.�

�� What if he wasn't really dead, and gained enough strength that he could get up and leave in a few days?� But Thomas remembers all the embalming fluid.� Besides, he couldn't have moved the stone by himself. [34]

�� What if grave robbers did come and take his body away as a prank?� But the gauze they wrapped around his body was still intact.� Why would they unwrap it and then rewrap it?� And why would they take a naked body? [35]

�� What if the religious leaders took it?� They wouldn't be gaining anything.� They were the ones who lined up the guards to make sure his body stayed put. [36]

�� Oh, Jesus, where are you?

Saturday, about April 22, AD 30

�� More pacing.� More sitting and standing and reclining.� Still no answers.

�� "Today is the Sabbath day which we always keep," James encourages.� "Surely he will appear to us today.� Hang on, Thomas.� And if he doesn't, maybe it will be safe enough next week to hit the road and head back out west.� He said for sure he'd see us again out there."

�� Thomas is discouraged.� But mystified.� How can they believe an inconceivable thing like this?�

�� Incredibly, all sixteen people who claim to have seen Jesus alive stick with the same story.� What convinced them?� They said he ate food, and they saw the nail holes.

�� That would convince Thomas too.� But what would the implications of all this mean?

�� "Thomas, he showed us a place in the scriptures written a thousand years ago where it was predicted, well, just read it for yourself.� David wrote it in one of his psalms."� Alphaeus hands Thomas the scripture scroll and leaves him alone to decide for himself.

�� Thomas reads it.� Over and over he reads it.� "God will not let his Holy One decay in the grave.� Instead, he will travel the path back to life and then eternal joy in heaven." [37]

�� "Oh God, if Jesus comes back to life with his same body just like it was before he died....well, if that happened, it can mean only one thing:� Jesus is the Holy One.

�� "No, that can't be!� I ate with him every day.� We laughed together.� He walked bow legged, and had that embarrassing habit of skipping when he was happy.� I saw him bleed when he skuffed a foot or hand..� His feet stank.� He had to take baths like everyone else.� �� "No!� Jesus came from you, but in the same sense all your prophets did.� He came from you, but not out of you. �Or did he?

�� "Jesus, where are you?� Why can't anyone find your body?"

Sunday, April 23, AD 28��

�� "Time to move again," John Mark announces.� "Back to my mother's house.� We can't stay anywhere too long at a time.� You know the routine." [38]

�� Once more Thomas sneaks out into the street.� Once more he crosses town so he won't be detected.� Along with the other cowards.� But why are they cowering?� It's all over.� The movement is dead with Jesus.

�� Once more the sitting and standing, the pacing and moving from room to room.

�� "Come on, Thomas, sit down in the courtyard with the rest of us.� Let's talk about it."

�� Under objections, Thomas joins them and sits down.

�� "Good day, everyone!" [39]

�� Everyone looks up.� Their eyes widen, they smile, and tears come to their eyes.� Thomas looks too.� But his expression is different.� It is one of astonishment.

�� "Thomas, you haven't had a very good week, have you?"

�� "Now, wait a minute," Thomas objects.� "You've got a good disguise, but not good enough for me.� I'm trained in clandestine operations, and I know a spy when I see one.� Simon, get your sword!"

�� No one moves.

�� "Well, what are you waiting for?"

�� Still no one comes to Thomas's aid.� He must act on his own.� He has another chance to show his courage and loyalty.� He grabs the impersonator's arms and puts them behind him.

�� "While you're at it, Thomas, put your finger in the holes under my hands.� Pull down the neck opening of my tunic and put your hand in the hole by my heart." [40]

�� Thomas looks down at the wrists he is holding behind the impersonator's back.� They have large wounds in them.� He stares at them, then loosens his grip.� He pull's the man's hands around in front of him and holds them palms up.� He puts his finger into the holes and his finger goes all the way through.

�� "This can't be!" he objects.� "A man cannot have gaping holes in his wrists where his arteries are!� You should be dead!"

�� The man smiles in agreement.� "Stop questioning, Thomas.� Just believe the evidence." [41]

�� Thomas stands back and swallows hard.� He remembers what he had decided just yesterday.� If Jesus came back to life, it meant he was the Holy One.� If he came back to life, it meant....

�� It meant he had regenerated his own life.� That's impossible unless....

�� Forgetting everyone else in the room, and seeing only Jesus before him, Thomas drops to his knees and looks up into his old friend's eyes.� Although he is the last to see him, he is the first to really see him.

�� "You are God!" [42]

���� LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� Healthy doubt is good.� Someone who claims they believe the fantastic with no proof will come to disbelieve it with no proof also.� Think of something or someone you believed in the past, then found out later the cause or person was a fake, a fraud.� How did it make you feel?� Have you ever wished you could prove beyond any doubt that Jesus performed miracles and came back to life?

2.�� Despite what some people would have us believe, faith is not blind.� Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as " the EVIDENCE of things hoped for."Have you examined any of the evidences suggested in previous chapters for personal research into the Bible's authenticity?� Do you want to?

3.The apostle Peter wrote thirty years later, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him."� And how did those people learn to believe in Jesus?� He continued,

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets...predicted the sufferings of Christ" (II Peter 1:8-11).� To trace prophecies fulfilled in Jesus' life and death, get a Bible with cross references in the center column.� With help from the table of contents, find the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus centuries earlier.� What joy can you feel knowing for sure that Jesus came back to life, thus offering you the same privilege?

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws