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Resurrection: You're the Evidence
Acts 2:22, 32 '[Peter said:] "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know... God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.' (NIV)
 In the earliest Christian art, some of the most common pictures of Jesus involved his miracles. Even Josephus, the first century Jewish historian and no friend of the Christian cause, recorded in his famous 'Antiquities' that Jesus was a 'wise man' who performed 'astonishing feats'. The Greek word he used there is 'paradoxon', which he also used in other places to denote miracles. Even those who were not friendly to Jesus' cause had to acknowledge his power to work miracles. But it was one special miracle that set the world alight through the witness of the apostles: the resurrection. When the apostles began to share their gospel with the world it wasn't to the cross alone that they pointed, or even to Jesus' many miracles of healing and deliverance. It was the resurrection that was central to their work. After the ascension, when a rejuvenated - no, revolutionized - Peter preached the first sermon of the Christian age, Jesus' miracles and resurrection where the central part of his message. As the early church grew, it quickly became clear to everyone that these previously ineffectual fishermen were now a major force. They weren't eloquent, but they worked amazing miracles, and they said it was the risen Jesus who gave them the power. What evidence is there today for Christ's resurrection? The greatest proof is the same today as it was in Peter's day: it is the power of our faith, a faith that produces the most amazing results. In short, when we believe for and see major breakthroughs in and through our lives, we demonstrate once again the reality of Jesus' resurrection.
Prayer: 'Jesus, I want to demonstrate the reality of your resurrection by the way I live. I want people to see astonishing things happening because of my faith in you.'
© 2003-2004 Mal Fletcher
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Thank you for such wonderful and heartfelt words about John Paul II. He stood and still stands for all that is good, and his "Voice for Life and Hope" will resound forever.
Gloria, United States
I attended MasterClass in London and got so much good out of it - thank you so much.
Reija, Finland
I am so thankful that I was directed towards Mal's article on Why Christian Minister's Fall. Thankyou, Mal, for such Godly insight & wisdom into how we should be reacting to such situations.
Amity, Australia
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