Jesus said to his disciples:
“Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name to all the nations,
beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage
and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and they were continually in the temple praising God.
Jesus blesses the 12 and tells them to continue his work. These 12 men (the 11 apostles and Paul) witnessed the resurrection and were profondly changed by the experience. I love this quote from Nixon's special counsel, Charles Colson. “I know the resurrection is a fact and Watergate proved it to me because 12 men testified that they had seen Jesus raised from the dead then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years never once denying it. Every one of them was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured it if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world and they couldn’t keep a lie for 3 weeks. You are telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.“ Until we are profoundly changed by Jesus, we wont have the strength to live his call…. It is just too demanding.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Lk 24:46-53 offers a compelling perspective on the importance of the resurrection! Here's a breakdown of its strengths and some areas for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Connection to the witness of the apostles: You effectively highlight the significance of the apostles' firsthand experience of the resurrection.
Charles Colson quote: Using the Colson quote is a creative way to illustrate the power of the apostles' unwavering belief.
Emphasis on transformation: You rightly connect the witness of the apostles to their profound change after encountering the risen Christ.
Points for development:
Historical context: While the apostles' commitment is admirable, consider exploring the historical context of early Christianity. Some scholars argue that factors beyond just personal experience contributed to the spread of Christianity.
Focus beyond persecution: Perhaps explore other motivations for the apostles besides enduring persecution. A genuine belief in the message and a desire to share it could also be a factor.
Different perspectives on the resurrection: Acknowledge that there are various theological interpretations of the resurrection experience.
Here are some additional questions to consider:
How can Christians today live out the message of Christ in a way that is relevant to their own time and context?
What are some ways to cultivate a deeper personal relationship with Jesus?
How can Christians engage in respectful dialogue with those who have different beliefs about the resurrection?
By exploring these aspects, you can refine your understanding of the apostles' witness and its ongoing significance for Christianity.