Character Matters

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 331
February 24, 2016

Sometimes, no matter how many people you have supporting your ideas, people just won't believe your story, because they just don't want to believe...

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened."

Luke 24:1-12 ESV

RANDY: Some things I noticed about this scripture.

1) There were numerous women who went to the tomb of Jesus...

"Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them".

It isn't like there was only one hysterical woman who was filled with grief, imagining he was alive.  There were several women, including the Jesus and James own mother, and several others.

2) This is the only time I remember hearing about "Joanna" and yet Luke mentions her as if we would all know who she is and that even the mention of her name should lend credibility to the story.  Keep in mind, he specifically states there are several women, but then he only mentions 3 by name.

Think about when you tell a story to people about something that happened that seems fantastic of miraculous.  You yourself would mention by name any credible witnesses or details that would help your audience to be assured that your story was true. Luke is doing the same thing.

3) Peter initially doubted, but eventually after hearing this story, felt compelled to go and see for himself. This is not Peter's first hand account of what happened, so once again Luke is appealing to a known and trusted source, Peter, to help make his case.

4) Your reputation really does matter.  It is the one thing about you uniquely that will outlive your time here on this earth.  What you do in the few short years you have here, will make all the difference in how people you knew will remember you once you are long gone.

Every funeral I have attended, people want to tell the stories about the person who died.  Funny stories, sad stories, heartwarming stories. 

Live your life in such a way, that just the mention of your name instantly adds credibility to the stories about what you saw and did in your lifetime.

Some people will still doubt, but many more will go and see for themselves, and know that you lived a good and true life.