A
depiction of the first appearance of Jesus to his apostles following
his resurrection.
Today,
reply is on the events provided by GOD to the followers of Jesus
Christ that establish among Christian believers that the Lord is
risen from the dead. Rather than the flesh, the Spirit imparted from
GOD is the primary evidence for resurrection; and, when Jesus
breathed on his apostles to impart the Holy Spirit comes into view as
the event that made possible their acceptance of his resurrection and
presence in the Upper Room. Many respond to accounts of the dead
being raised as “incredible” (i.e., false reports; lies;
something not possible, and therefore unbelievable). To have certain
knowledge (proof) of ones own redemption and salvation by GOD through
his Son, sinners must become aware of things that are invisible, yet,
endowed with authority, power, and presence from divinity.
Included are divine prerogative, grace, eternal purpose, sacred
events (we say, miracles), and the sovereign will of GOD. There must
be operations of faith and other aspects of divine life essence.
Multiple streams of truth flow to us from the cross proclaiming that
Jesus was a lamb of sacrifice slain for atonement of sin. In
addition to his death on the cross, the holy writings also document
his resurrection, and appearances to the living after his
crucifixion. It is written: 1st Corinthians 15: 12-15,
King James Version (KJV): 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose
from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection
of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is
Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our
preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we
are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God
that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the
dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ
raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain;
ye are yet in your sins. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo!
Answers” public forum on Religion & Spirituality who uses the
ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shown) posted the
following:
Thomas
walked with Jesus & witnessed miracles yet still required proof
of the resurrection which Jesus provided. Why not for us today?
Why
should we be any different than Thomas?
And
before you say "We have the Bible", the Jews had the Torah.
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man
speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that
no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (1st
Corinthians 12: 3, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: A Single Sacred Revelation (01/09/2019); Authentic
Experiences From GOD (05/14/2019); Belief, Faith, and Proof
(03/02/2014); Miracles and Visitations? (03/03/2014); All Lying
Forbidden? (03/04/2014); Experience Is Not Evidence? (05/05/2013);
Church Mandatory? (05/06/2013)
“Anonymous”,
faith is the proof for the resurrection of Jesus Christ along with
the many inseparable aspects of divine makeup (e.g., balance,
forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, oneness without sameness,
personhood, wisdom, and wrath against sin). Usually those who
require “proof” for the resurrection of Jesus Christ are
attempting to grasp and understand divinity using the finite human
tools of intellect and carnal reason. Mistakenly, they insist that
academic, scientific, and secular knowledge can be used to
analyze and examine things known only by using sacred knowledge.
After the crucifixion, when Jesus first appeared among his apostles,
he upbraided them for their hardness of heart, and refusing to
respect the testimony of the empty tomb, and his appearance as a
gardener. Yet, apprehension for things that are divine and sacred is
only through features that are spirit in their process and substance,
rather than carnal, material, physical, and social. There also must
be acceptance of accountability and duty, commitment, discernment,
respect, reverence, trust, and truth.
Thomas
and the other apostles of Jesus Christ were chosen to be
eye-witnesses of sacred events (we say, miracles); to be members of a
spiritual team that would prepare communities to receive Jesus as a
traveling evangelist (we say, itinerant preacher); and to assist in
maintaining order during the public meetings and open-air sessions.
More than this, the apostles were to be the living documentation that
Jesus is alive following his divine resurrection. Also, the apostles
were to acknowledge, authenticate, and certify the falling of the
Holy Ghost; continue their apostolic ministry (e.g., baptism,
exorcism, feeding, healing, teaching); display the spiritual gifts
provided to continue the ministry of Jesus on the earth; and invoke
anointing by the Spirit through the laying on of hands.
The
apostles and the believers from the Upper Room received more than
instruction regarding things past and current events. They were
given guidance and visions regarding eternal purpose, the end times,
and the appearing of Jesus to harvest the earth. As members of the
early church granted the gifts of prophecy, the apostles were
spokespersons from GOD who shared comfort, edification, and
exhortation. Consider once again the following that uses language
from the Bible, and a selection from the music ministry of Donnie
McClurkin:
(1.)
Luke 16: 27-31, King James Version (KJV): King James Version
(KJV): 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou
wouldest send him to my father’s
house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them,
lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith
unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the
dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one
rose from the dead.
(2.)
John 20: 19-25, KJV: 19 Then the same day at evening, being the
first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood
in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And
when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his
side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then
said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my
Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said
this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the
Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto
them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when
Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have
seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands
the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the
nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
(3.)
John 20: 26-28, KJV: 26 And after eight days again his disciples
were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors
being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto
you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold
my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my
side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered
and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him,
Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are
they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (4.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xcEX4aP8Sk.) Even
so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according
to your faith.
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Washington,
DC
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