Idle Tales
Views: 27
There are times that you are made to feel embarrassed explaining yourself; because what you are saying, though true, makes no sense in logic, natural occurrences and conventional wisdom. When that happens, you are either perceived as “going insane,” or suffering from a psychotic episode. The uncharitable, and the not-so-kind, actually question your intelligence, and how you believe such “nonsense” after all the education you had.
That was the situation the women — Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and the other women who went to Jesus’ tomb on the resurrection morning — had when trying to explain what they witnessed to the disciples. Basically, some of Jesus’ own disciples thought the story of His resurrection “sounded like nonsense.” Let us read it here in the New Living Translation Bible.
So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened.
But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.
However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
(Luke 24:9-12 NLT)
The women had gone to the tomb with spices they had prepared to treat the body, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They rather encountered angels who told them “He has risen!“(vv. 1-8) So they went back to tell the disciples that were left, that they found the tomb empty, and also met angels who told them Jesus had risen. The story “sounded like nonsense” to the disciples! The king James Bible said “their words seemed to them as idle tales.” They did not believe the stories! Even Peter, who ran to view the empty tomb, wondered what had happened!
It was only when Jesus began to reveal Himself to them (vv. 31 & 34) that some began to believe. It did not come easy(vv. 35-51), but finally, they worshipped Him (v.52)!
Jesus’ own disciples: those who were with Him, heard Him, walked with Him, ate with Him, listened to His sermons, prayed with Him, saw Him raise Lazarus from the dead, and saw many of His other miracles; did not believe Him, nor the resurrection story! They only believed Him when He revealed Himself to them. One of them later wrote:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
(1 John 1:1-5)
There are many today, who do not believe too. Some call the birth, death and resurrection story a fairytale; others call it “brainwashing,” and some actually say the whole “Christianity thing” is a ploy to deceive, indoctrinate, exploit and enslave!
In writing to the church in Corinth, Paul said:
“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
(1 Corinthian 2:14)
That is the reason we need not engage in arguments; but rather continue to pray for such, that God will reveal Himself to them. Many of these people will testify when He does, and will become His witnesses; just like the disciples, and just like Paul.
I pray for that encounter.
MEMORY VERSE
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
(1 John 1:5)
QUESTIONS
What hinders your faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Why not pray for a personal encounter with Him?
PRAYER TIP
Father, thank you for Jesus. I pray that I will encounter Him daily, as I walk through this life.
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.
Then develop your new relationship with God through your Quiet Time.
Then find a Bible-Believing Church where you can Fellowship with like minded people.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
The Testimony Devotional website addresses are: