Two points from
today’s sermon stick with me and move me profoundly.
The first
provides encouragement and comfort because I am no debater. Put me in a debate, and I am sure to
lose. My brain freezes; plus, it seems
like there are always good arguments on the other side. Perhaps it is ironic that I enjoy the field
of apologetics so much. It’s important
to know what we believe and why we believe it.
Just don’t ask me to debate it. Instead,
let me proclaim it. Proclaiming versus
explaining was the first point in the sermon.
Forgive my sacrilege, but the rhyme that comes to mind is from an old
Alka-Seltzer commercial: “Plop, plop,
fizz, fizz; oh, what a relief it is!”
The second
point produces even more relief. Frankly,
the fact that the gospels give variants of the crucifixion and resurrection of
Christ has always bothered me. How do I reconcile
the different accounts? Do the
differences diminish the sacred text, making it questionable? No. Eyewitness
accounts, as Dave explained, are different than expert testimony. Experts use their specialized training to interpret
the facts. Eyewitnesses tell what they personally
saw and heard. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John may vary on some details—making their accounts even more humanly believable--but
they agree on the central fact: Jesus
rose from the dead.
What a
joyous message! As a 21st
century eyewitness to the risen Christ, I am in a much better position to
proclaim than to explain. Rather than
try to convince you that I know what I’m talking about, I can simply tell you
what I’ve seen and heard. The words of
the gospel song by Bill and Gloria Gaither come to mind:
God sent His son, they called Him
Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!
The message
is simple: Jesus lives! But it will take me a lifetime to tell you
about my personal experience of new life in Him.
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