My Mind Is Made Up

During this past Easter season, there were a number of movies on television which those who make up the schedules felt were appropriate for the season — movies such as The Robe, The King of kings and Easter Parade — just to mention a few. There was also a documentary about Roman events which led to the death of Christ. Being somewhat interested in the history of that period, I sat down to watch it. The first thing that they said was that the way the death of Jesus is described in the gospels was impossible under the Roman laws of that period. So, I turned it off right away. My mind is made up, and I don't want to be confused with the "facts" — as they see them.

Every year, there seem to be these types of statements, television shows, and articles, which, I think, are meant to make us doubt. I checked my files and found some notes that I had written some years ago on an article about the Dead Sea Scrolls. I considered this article to be yet another effort to make us doubt our faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

"Scholars have been working on the Dead Sea scrolls since 1947 and only bits and pieces of information have trickled out," so the article said. "One of the reasons the scholars have not wanted to let the people know what they found is because the scrolls virtually prove that Jesus never existed," so the late John M. Allegro said. "That's why the Christian scroll team have kept the lid on research, and even put out deliberate false interpretations of the scrolls."

"Barbara Thiering, an Australian biblical scholar, had to remove layers of myth and mysticism," so the paper said, "to reach her conclusion that the Dead Sea Scrolls show that Jesus never performed any miracles, did not die on the cross, but lived for another 30 years, married twice and was the father of three children. Jesus sneaked away from his executioners and ran off to France with Mary Magdalene. A living Parisian schoolboy is one of their descendants."

Such misinformation is in direct conflict with historical evidence, such as researched by journalist Lee Strobel, and with the biblical record.

1 Peter 3:15b – Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (NIV)

There are numerous statements in the Bible that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Saviour of the world.

Matthew 16:15-17 – He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (NKJV)

John 11:25-27 – Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." (NKJV)

John 20:27-28 – Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (NKJV)

We are assured through faith that Jesus is the Son of God.

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.
       – Alfred Ackley

Prayer: O Father in heaven, we thank You for the words of Scripture which tell us that Jesus is alive indeed, and we thank You in His holy name. Amen.

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