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The Resurrection and Events Surrounding It

The crucifixion leaves Christians without hope . . . unless they keep reading the Bible and realize Jesus’ death is not the end of the story! Just as Jesus predicted, He rose from the dead three days after He was buried. This is referred to as the resurrection.

And just as skeptics promote that the crucifixion was a fairy tale, many often believe Christ’s resurrection was also a hoax. Yet, concerning the crucifixion, we have documented proof that it was indeed a common practice in Jesus’ day. We also have proof that Jesus was actually crucified.

If we continue to let history speak for itself, we soon realize Jesus actually did what He promised He’d do: He conquered death! The resurrection actually happened.

Josh McDowell entered college as a young atheist who was soon challenged by a professor to prove that the claims of Christ were simply a pack of lies. As Josh began researching the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, he soon came to a crossroads: Either Jesus Christ really is who He claims to be . . . or He’s the greatest liar the world has ever known and successfully deceived an entire planet with an incredible hoax.

Josh didn’t want to believe, but as he continued trying to disprove Jesus’ claims, he was finally convinced — by the facts — that Jesus Christ truly is the Son of God, was crucified for our sins and rose from the dead three days later.

You, too, can study the facts. Let the evidence speak for itself. For more study, check out Josh McDowell’s book More Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Another great book that will enhance your research is The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

Over the years, skeptics have created several theories to try and explain away the resurrection. One such theory is called “The Wrong Tomb.” Skeptics state that the disciples were so distraught at the death of their Leader, they didn’t pay close enough attention to where He was buried. Therefore, when they arrived at the tomb on Sunday morning and found it empty, they were actually at the wrong tomb!

But Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, and a few others watched Him be buried. There’s no strong witness than an eye witness! His mother knew where His grave was located. Would she suddenly forget in three days? Were the other who were with her suddenly forget as well? The “wrong tomb” theory is nuts!

Know It!
Don’t believe the resurrection simply because you’ve heard the story all your life. Know the facts! Do your research. The only way you’ll be able to defend your faith is if you know why you believe what you do!

Read It!
Matthew 27:50-66; Mark 15:46-47; Luke 23:55; Hebrews 12:2.

Pray It!
Dear Jesus, sometimes I don’t know what to say when others try to disprove Your death and resurrection. Give me Your thoughts and Your words. Help me to know the facts, so I can speak out confidently.

Trusting God through the Pain

The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them. Deuteronomy 7:22-24 (NIV)

Have you ever felt God doesn't hear you when you ask Him to take a problem out of your life? It can feel like God is just not listening to you, or you may feel like you aren't praying correctly, but the truth is that God is working blessings in your life whether you can see them or not. The blessings that God is working out aren't always the things we are focused on, and for a good reason. You may be praying about something that is step 33 on God's list and He may be on step 5. God knows what He's doing and knows He can't fix problem 33 until He has fixed the other 32 problems first. The key is to follow His guidance even when it doesn't seem to have anything to do with what we are asking of Him. It can get so frustrating when you are trying to work past struggles, weaknesses or repetitive sins that you just can't seem to shake. Once we step back from focusing only on ourselves and taking a look at the bigger picture, our Christian life and walk start making more sense.

In the scripture verse up above, God is talking to Israel about driving out all the other nations so that they can move in to the promised land. This scripture says that He is only going to do it "little by little". In looking at this, we would be tempted to ask "Why would He not just destroy everyone at once so the Israelites could just walk right in?" As we look at the bigger picture, we can see that it took several years for Israel to move completely into the promised land. If God had destroyed all the opposing nations at once, wild animals would have come in and ravaged the cities, turning them in to wastelands. Without the area being worked by farmers and such, much of it would have become overgrown by weeds and grass, essentially turning it into a jungle making very large sections of the land completely uninhabitable. By God allowing the other nations to stay in the land until Israel was ready to take that section of land also allowed the Israelites to get all that nation's animals, equipment, etc. on top of getting choice land. That makes more sense doesn't it? God had a bigger blessing in mind. God always has a bigger blessing in mind for us too.

Imagine you were in a town that had a railroad track running through it. One day you go for a walk and hear a kid screaming. It seems he was playing by the track and has gotten his arm struck in the rail, breaking his arm in the fall. As you run to him, you hear and see the training coming down the track very rapidly, heading directly toward the little boy. You have to move the arm around and straighten it up to get him out of the track. You tell the boy what you have to do but he doesn't want you to move his arm because it hurts. You try to tell him that the train is coming but he is still more concerned with the pain he is feeling in his arm. He finally realizes the train is coming and lets you move his arm around thereby freeing him You quickly move him to safety before the train comes by. Then you call an ambulance and rush the boy to the hospital.

Sometimes, our struggles are just like this situation. Spiritually, we are like the little kid with his arm stuck in the tracks. The repetitive sins or struggles are the broken arm. When God runs up to us, He tries to help us get away from the train track so we can go the hospital but we are too focused on the broken arm we fail to see the rest of the picture. We have to listen to His voice, stop for a second, take a step back, and look at the bigger picture. We must be willing to follow God to where he tells us to go. It takes faith to believe that God knows what He's doing. God can see the train coming, even when we can't, and He wants to help us. God loves us more than we love ourselves, and for much better reasons. He wants to get us to safety. We have to trust that God has bigger blessings in store for us and be willing to follow Him. Don't get frustrated with God by the pain. Don't get frustrated with Him for not immediately taking it away or for it even getting a little worse. The truth is that God is not trying to hurt you at all, He's trying to release you from the train track.

Reinstating Peter

Isn’t it comforting to know that Jesus knows you much better than you know yourself? When you feel discouraged, hopeless and alone, He understands. Peter must have felt pretty low. After all, he boldly bragged at the Last Supper that he’d never desert Jesus — that He’d even die for Him. Yet when approached by a young girl in the early morning hours following Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied ever having known Jesus. He lied!

This was the same man upon whom Jesus had said He would build His church! This is the guy who walked on water and appeared with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (the special place where Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus). Peter, one of the privileged three who was with Jesus when He raised a girl to life — this same Peter — didn’t even admit He knew Jesus when it mattered the most.

Can you imagine how low he must have felt? He failed. He boldly stated He’d follow Jesus to the end, but he blew it. Can you identify? Have you ever felt as though you didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness?

After the crucifixion, Peter went back to something familiar — fishing. We often do that, too, don’t we? We tend to lean toward our comfort zone when we feel insecure or intimidated. And Peter was certainly at home on the water. It was his business, his life.

But Jesus knew exactly where Peter was. (Jesus always knows where you are, too. Even in your darkest hour, Jesus knows where you are and how you feel.) And Jesus, knowing Peter would be in his boat, headed toward the beach. It was breakfast time. While Peter is still out on the water, Jesus started a fire and a fish-fry on the shore.

Peter, seeing His Lord (and smelling the fish), quickly rowed to shore and met Jesus on the sand. After they had shared breakfast, Jesus reinstated His mission for Peter. He wanted Peter to know that even though he had blown it, He still dreamed big dreams for His disciple.

Jesus instructed him to “Feed sheep.” Jesus had to repeat it three times, but Peter finally caught on that Jesus wasn’t talking about playing shepherd-man and chasing after wooly-coated animals. Peter knew that Jesus referred to His children as His sheep. Peter took the challenge — to feed the flock of God.

Know It!
Christ issues the same challenge to you as well. He wants you to spread the gospel and to care for His people. Are you actively doing that right now?

Read It!
Romans 8:35; John 21.

Pray It!
Dear Jesus, thank You for continuing to dream dreams for me even though I’ve failed. I want to be all You dream for me, Jesus. Help me to remember that You always know where I am and how I feel.

Feed Sheep?

We can’t help but wonder why Jesus had to ask Peter the same question three times after breakfast. It’s kind of intimidating when someone keeps repeating the same question to us, isn’t it? When a teacher asks, “Are you paying attention?” more than once, we’re embarrassed.

When parents ask, “Have you cleaned your room?” over and over again, we’re frustrated.

The Bible tells us that Peter was grieved at the way Jesus kept rephrasing His question and repeating it. Why did Peter need to hear it three times? Was it because he just didn’t get it at first?

There are times we don’t get it as quickly as we’d like. Often we have to be told over and over again to do something. Sometimes we’re asked the same questions only phrased a little differently to make sure we truly understand. Could it be that Peter was on a totally different wave length than His Savior?

When Jesus told Peter to “feed sheep,” maybe Peter took Him literally. What?!? Me? Feed sheep? You’ve gotta be kidding. I’m a fisherman. I don’t do sheep.

Maybe Peter thought he was above doing what Jesus was asking him to do. Hey, look at me! I’m used to battling horrendous waves on rough seas. I’m a man’s man. I don’t prance around the hills watching a bunch of sheep chew grass all day.

But as Jesus kept rephrasing the question and coating it with, “Do you love Me?” Peter began to understand that Jesus was commissioning him to be the hands and feet of God.

What are some specific ways you can do that today? You see, through the years, God’s call on our lives hasn’t changed. He’s still commissioning us to take care of His children — to be the hands and feet of our heavenly Father.

If you were to take that call seriously . . . and truly begin living it out through your actions on a daily basis . . . what would it look like? Would you let someone cut in front of you? Would you go out of your way to help a friend? Would you sit with someone who’s totally alone in the school cafeteria? Would you reach out to the campus weirdo? Would you go the second mile for someone who needed you?

Know It!
If you’ll ask God for opportunities to feed His sheep, He will give them to you! So . . . what are you waiting for?

Read It!
John 21; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 3:18.

Pray It!
Jesus, I want to take Your call on my life seriously. Help me to “feed Your sheep.” Show me specific things I can do to be Your hands and feet to those around me.

Quiz Time

• Jesus was ARRESTED

a. with handcuffs and leg shackles.
b. in the Garden of Gethsemane.
c. among thieves and gangsters.

• This arrest was illegal, because

a. it took place at night.
b. there was no search warrant.
c. He was betrayed by one of His own disciples.

• During the Last Supper, Jesus

a. asked what the cost was for the room they were renting.
b. rebuked His disciples for eating too much.
c. told His disciples that His body and blood would soon be given for them.

• Pilate released Jesus to the crowd of accusers to be crucified, because

a. Barabbas was a good friend of his, and Pilate wanted to spare his life.
b. he wanted to satisfy the crowd.
c. he had seen Jesus steal money and knew He was guilty of several other crimes as well.

• The Romans used a whip called a flagrum to beat Jesus. Several pieces of sharp bone and metal were attached to

a. chariots that were set on fire.
b. wild beasts that attacked Jesus.
c. long shreds of leather strips.

• Jewish law stated that a prisoner couldn’t be whipped more than how many times?

a. 39
b. 176
c. 12

• The path that Jesus took to Golgotha, where He was crucified, is known today as

a. the road to death.
b. the road to Zion.
c. the Via Dolorosa.

• During His remaining time on the Cross, Jesus spoke how many sentences?

a. Seven
b. 68
c. Too many to count.

• The guards threw dice for Jesus’ garment, because

a. it was made of flannel.
b. it was a rare color.
c. it was seamless.

• The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves who died with Jesus, but they didn’t break His legs because

a. His knees were grossly swollen.
b. He was already dead.
c. they felt sorry for Him.

• Skeptics who refuse to believe, have created some theories in an attempt to explain away Christ’s resurrection. Some of them are:

a. The “Dead Man Wasn’t Really Jesus” theory.
b. The “Wrong Tomb” theory.
c. The “Jesus Was Drowned, Not Crucified” theory.
d. The “Disciples Stole His Body” theory.
e. The “Alien Abduction” theory.
f. The “Jesus Never Really Died; He Only Fainted” theory.

Know It!
The death and resurrection of Your Savior is no fairy tale. It really happened. Know the facts and be willing to share them with your non-Christian friends.

Read It!
2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 3:14; Hebrews 4:2.

Pray It!
Jesus, I want to be sure of my beliefs. Thank You for having the ability and the desire to answer all my questions and handle my doubts. Help me to become more and more confidents of the facts concerning Your death and resurrection.

Who Knew?

Who would have guessed that . . .

• You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching TV.

• Oak trees don’t produce acorns until they’re 50 years of age or older.

• The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s gum.

• American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first- class.

• Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

• All United States Presidents have worn glasses. Many just didn’t like being seen wearing them in public.

• Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

• The plastic things on the ends of shoelaces are called aglets.

• Walt Disney was afraid of mice . . . yet he created the most famous mouse in the world.

• Pearls dissolve in vinegar.

• It’s possible to lead a cow upstairs, but not downstairs.

• Betsy Ross is the only real person to ever have been the head on a Pez dispenser.

• The average life span of a major league baseball is seven pitches.

• A duck’s quack doesn’t echo.

• Richard Milhouse Nixon was the first United States president whose name contains all the letters from the word “criminal.”

• William Jefferson Clinton was the second United States president whose name contains all the letters from the word “criminal.”

Who would have guessed all that?

And who would guess that you have a personal, loving, growing relationship with the Creator of the universe . . . unless you tell them? Before Jesus physically left the earth, He commanded His disciples to go into all the world and spread the gospel. Note He didn’t say, “When you feel ready,” or “When you get around to it” or “If it’s convenient” or “When you figure out a splashy way to do it.” He just said, “Go.”

So what are you waiting for? Have you ever “gone”? Short-term mission trips can be life-changing adventures. Would you dare to allow God to stretch you? Would you be willing to get out of your comfort zone? Would you be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to earn and save enough money to fund such a trip?

If so, then you may want to pray about participating with Focus on the Family’s Brio magazine’s annual two-week international missions trip. Each year we take approximately 500 teens out of their comfort zone. And guess what! They come back totally changed, charged and centered. If you’re interested in such an adventure, get more information from the Brio Web site.

Know It!
God never asks you to do something without equipping you with everything you need to do it.

Read It!
Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:25; Philippians 4:13.

Pray It!
I don’t know, Jesus. Leaving my family and friends — even for a couple of weeks — seems pretty bizarre. I’m not sure I’m ready for such an experience. But I do want to be part of spreading the gospel. Help me become more confident in my relationship with You. And give me Your deep, settled peace if You want me to go on a missions trip.

Missions: A Life-Changing Experience

A few years after my personal trip to Brazil, I took several hundred teens to Rio de Janeiro. One of our first stops was the dump in Rio. It wasn’t as massive as the Fortalesa dump, but it was every bit as heart- wrenching.

Jenni was so moved by the sights, smells and sounds she experienced during her time at the dump, she called her mom back in the United States as soon as we arrived back at our home base. “Give it away, Mom,” she said during the long-distance phone call. “Everything I haven’t worn in the past year, all my childhood toys, anything I don’t use on a regular basis. Give it all away to a group or organization who can get it all to people who need it. I don’t want any of it to be there when I return home. You won’t believe what I experienced today at the dump. Mom, these people are living in cardboard lean-to’s. They breathe, sleep and eat out of the garbage.”

Jenni had a life-changing experience.

So did Cara. She entered the dump and was immediately drawn to a naked little 18-month-old girl playing in the trash. Cara bent over and scooped her into her arms and swung her around. As she held the little girl, she couldn’t help but feel and notice several huge infections are her small, exposed bottom.

Through an interpreter, she asked the girl’s mother what they were. “Oh, those,” the mother replied. “Those are bites from the rats that chew on her during the night.”

Cara reached into her backpack and cleaned the little girl’s bottom as best as she could. And motioning for the interpreter again, she asked permission to take the girl to the ministry site several yards away from where they were working. While there, Cara bathed and diapered the girl and decided to sponsor her for $20 a month through the ministry that organized help for those working in the dump. Her money would ensure the little girl would receive food each day and hand-me- down clothing.

Cara headed back to her team and shared her decision with them. Because Cara had been so deeply affected, her passion contagiously touched her teammates. They too, were moved and decided to sponsor the rest of the mother’s nine children.

A short-term missions trip can definitely be a life- changing experience. You’ll see, hear, taste, smell and touch things you’ve never experienced before.

Know It!
It’s often hard to imagine how only one person can make a difference. But God can use you in a mighty way to influence changes around you. Again, if you’ve never been on a short-term missions trip, pray about the possibility.

Read It!
Isaiah 6:8; Acts 3:24-26; Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 2:9- 10.

Pray It!
Dear Jesus, it’s exciting to think that You can use me to make a difference in someone’s life. I’ll trust You to open the right doors for ministry with my life.

Out of Date?

“Justin, this is Pastor Steve. How’s it goin’?”

“Fine,” Steve answered as he balanced the phone on his left shoulder and slapped a piece of bologna between two slices of bread saturated with peanut butter.

“Just calling to let you know we’ve missed you at youth group.”

“Yeweibsy,” Justin muttered between bites.

“Justin, I know you’re taking a foreign language at school, but I’m not familiar with this one,” Pastor Steve said with a chuckle.

“Sorry ’bout that,” Justin said. “I just got home from school, and I’m starving. It’s peanut butter and bologna time!”

“Ugh!”

“Serious, Man. It’s great!”

“I’ll take your word for it. Can I pick you up for youth group this week?”

“Ah, I don’t know,” Justin said.

“Okay. Level with me, Justin. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t get into the stuff we’ve been talking about.”

“You mean the series we started last month on people from the Bible?”

“Yeah. It’s all so irrelevant.”

“Really?” Pastor Steve prodded.

“Well, sure. It happened like a zillion years ago. What’s any of that got to do with me?”

“Okay, well let’s say this week we tackle something that is relevant. Think any of these topics will hit home? Terrorism, unmarried and pregnant, murder, rape, peer pressure, New Age.”

“Now you’re talking, Pastor Steve! See, that’s the real world. Those are the things we face every day — not stuff like chariots and marching around walls and talking donkeys.”

“Hey, Justin. That list of topics I just rattled off came right from the Bible! It’s all the stuff we’re scheduled to take a look at during the next few weeks.”

“You’re kidding!”

“No, I’m serious.”

“The Bible talks about all that stuff?”

“Sure does, Justin. Don’t ever be deceived that the Bible isn’t relevant. It’s the most relevant guidebook you’ll ever read. Studying it is the beginning of wisdom.”

“Well, I can definitely use some wisdom right now! I’m in a jam because of a lie I told Coach Baker.”

“I’ve got just the book for you, Justin!”

“All right. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

Know It!
God’s Holy Word — the Bible — is the most precious possession you can own. Its words are priceless. Its wisdom is abundant. It contains the answers for any problem you’ll ever encounter. Make time every single day to devour more of its contents.

Read It!
Proverbs 21-26; Proverbs 4:1-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Pray It!
Jesus, I confess I often tune out a sermon because I assume it won’t relate to me. But I’m beginning to realize that Your Holy Word is filled with ordinary people — just like me — who failed, repented and received victory. Help me understand the Bible as I commit to reading it on a more consistent basis.