Tagged: Daily Reflections

I BELIEVE

“These have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith you may have life in His name.” –John 20:31 Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Has this last week been one of the greatest weeks in your life, not because of what you’ve done, but because of what the risen Lord has done? Or are you still locked in the upper room with all the doubting Thomases and fearful disciples? “Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!” (Jn 20:27) “There is nothing to fear” (Rv 1:17). Jesus is “the...

INEXPLICABLE LIVES

“Everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows what a remarkable show of power took place through them. We cannot deny it.” –Acts 4:16 How do we know that Jesus has risen from the dead? The historicity of the Resurrection accounts in the Bible is more credible than other ancient documents because of the number and accuracy of the manuscripts of the Gospels and the reliability of the authors of the Gospel. This has been confirmed by the Gospel’s internal consistency and by archaeological discoveries. We have an intellectual, factual basis for believing that Jesus has risen. However, to know the significance...

HEALING THE HANDICAPPED

“If we must answer today for a good deed done to a cripple and explain how he was restored to health, then you and all the people of Israel must realize that it was done in the name of Jesus Christ.” –Acts 4:9-10 “Many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles” after the first Pentecost (Acts 2:43). The few healings recounted in Acts of the Apostles were chosen to be proclaimed not just because they were healings, but because of their special significance. The man lame from birth is someone we all can identify with. We may not be...

GHOSTS AND THE SPIRIT

“Touch Me and see that a ghost does not have flesh and bones as I do.” –Luke 24:39 The first reaction to the risen Christ was and is: “In their panic and fright they thought they were seeing a ghost” (Lk 24:37). Jesus tried to change that first impression by showing His nail-scarred hands and feet and by eating a piece of fish (Lk 24:40, 42-43). They still thought He was a ghost. “Then He opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45), but the apostles still stayed behind locked doors (Jn 20:26). Only through the reception...

THE WORD OF THE LORD

“Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them.” –Acts 2:14 Put yourself in St. Peter’s place. You’re standing before several thousand people, many of whom think you’re drunk. This is your chance to witness to the risen Christ. What are you to say? Will you mention that the risen Jesus personally appeared to you on Resurrection Day? (Lk 24:34) Will you mention Jesus’ evening appearance or that occasion a week later when Thomas touched His wounds? (Jn 20:19-29) How about the time when the risen Christ told you how to catch one-hundred and fifty-three fish, or...