Be Bold
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and, hallelujah, it’s Easter week!
And it is the best of all weeks for any Christian. Oh, what would we do without the assurance; the rock-solid fact of the resurrection of our wonderful Savior?! It’s what fills my heart with joy as we begin this week. And it is what girds my confidence as I meet skeptics who doubt the fact that Jesus really rose from the dead. I’ve had many encounters with cynics and nonbelievers who scoff at the idea of Jesus rising from the grave. I remember one time in a boutique, when I was looking through the sales rack, my friend held up a jacket to me and suddenly, from behind me, I heard a woman exclaim, “Oh, my God!” It was the boutique owner. She was this tall, blond woman with a German accent, and she gushed, “This jacket would look absolutely adorable on you!” She took the item from my friend, grabbed it, held it up, twirled it around so I could see the back.
Well, I was not going to miss this opportunity. And so I said, “Oh, do you know him, too?” I kind of matched her energy with a big smile. And she asked, “Who?” wrinkling her forehead. “God,” I said. “You mentioned him. The way you said his name, I thought you might know him.” “Me? Nah!” she scoffed. “I did that whole God thing many years ago. I do not need him. I have myself.” Well, that did it. As she rang up the sale, I squeezed in as much of my personal testimony as I possibly could. And by the time I wheeled out the door with my bag, Anushka – that was her name – Anushka still was not convinced. But she did promise to read the Joni book, if I brought back a copy in the German language. Which I did.
Oh, friend, this is Easter week. A time when we are reminded of what the resurrection of Christ means to us and to others. And you will meet people like Anushka in your community every day. Trouble is, we never look – I mean, look deeply – at the run-of-the-mill shopkeeper, and we never picture this person rising out of his or her grave to either live or to be condemned. Little wonder Jesus says in John chapter 5, “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
Jesus says do not be amazed, but isn’t it amazing how we are. Maybe it’s because we can’t imagine Jesus as a judge, as anything other than tender and compassionate. Perhaps we cannot fathom a voice so loud, so thunderous, that it will wake the dead. It takes a passage like John chapter 5; it takes something like Easter to jar us out of our spiritual slumber concerning those around us who don’t know Christ. Oh, my goodness. One day Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead. And, friend, the dead we cannot do anything about. But the living we can. So, agree with God this week leading up to Easter; agree that you want to fit into his plan to reach the woman who works at the day care center, the cleaning lady, the man who mows your lawn, the bank teller and all those others who don’t know the Savior. People like Anushka.
Oh! And when you do come across someone who doubts the resurrection, I’ve got a great pamphlet to give you as evidence. It lists all the objections that skeptics like Anushka would normally raise. Like, you know, how the disciples made it all up or that Jesus was a mythological figure. Come on! We can answer those objections. This pamphlet is called “Evidence for the Resurrection,” and you can get your free copy today at joniradio.org. So join me there at joniradio.org. Visit us at joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends
Evidence for the Resurrection
Here are 12 reasons skeptics should believe that Jesus died and rose again. Examine the historical, archaeological, and cultural proofs for Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Also, know the answers to other beliefs held by atheists and others. Learn why the resurrection is central for Christians. Discover the evidence that has convinced critics over the years.
