You Can Know You Have Eternal Life
#69 King Jesus of Nazareth
King Jesus God, Myth, or Mere Man? (12)
Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? (5)
The Skeptics Conversion to Christianity
by Jim Mettenbrink
[printable PDF of article]
[review previous
article][advance to next article]
We have considered several evidences,
including the apostles teaching and their subsequent death
in defending Jesus, as proof that Jesus rose from the dead. Additionally,
the conversion of two skeptics, James (Jesus brother) and
Saul the pharisee (later known as Paul) argue for His resurrection.
Jesus was considered a Rabbi (teacher)
by many Jews, but His family, including James, rejected Him as
being God (John 7:5). After Jesus resurrection, their
former skepticism would have been considered a family embarrassment.
Mere writers would have hidden that fact for the sake of
zealously promoting Jesus as the divine Savior. However,
the inspired Bible writers reveal that James had been an unbeliever
before Jesus resurrection. Having seen the resurrected
Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7), he became a Christian and later one
of the leaders in the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; 15:13).
Saul, on the other hand, was a
radical Pharisee (Acts 22:3;23:6; Galatians 1:14), whose mission
was to destroy Christianity (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2; 22:4-5; Galatians
1:13). Jesus message was totally contrary to Sauls
pharisaical upbringing. Thus he saw Christians as blasphemers
against God and heretics against Judaism. That Sauls
intent to eradicate Christians, not only in Jerusalem, but everywhere,
is marked by his trip to Damascus, 160 miles from Jerusalem.
While on this journey to persecute Christians, he was suddenly
converted to Jesus, who revealed Himself to Saul in a vision.
Although the men who were with Saul did not experience
the revelation as Saul (Paul) did, they witnessed that something
strange was happening to Paul. At that moment Paul was
temporarily blinded, then through the course of the next three
days became a Christian, repudiated Judaism as no longer valid
and began preaching in the synagogues the resurrected
Jesus as the Messiah and Lord (Acts 9:1-22). Further, Paul
could perform miracles after becoming a Christian (Acts 15:12)
and could pass this power to Christians (Acts 19:6).
Neither James nor Saul believed
in Jesus as God and Savior before His crucifixion. However,
after His resurrection, they became the most zealous Christians,
boldly proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead. Something
remarkable happened that changed their lives the resurrection
of Jesus of Nazareth.
[review previous article][advance to next article] |