The Tomb of Jesus

With all the hype about the so-called discovery of Jesus' tomb, many Christians are up in arms. Does it surprise us that this type of information surfaces again and again? It shouldn't. The adversary, the devil, will try to discredit Christ's death, burial and resurrection as long as he is on this earth. The question pops up. . .does evidence bring faith or does faith bring evidence? Well perhaps it is both depending on the occasion - remember Thomas wanting to see and touch Jesus nail holes in his hands and pierced side. Yet, the Bible tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. 11:6 Whether faith comes before evidence or evidence comes before faith is not the most needed question to ask. The most needed question to ask is, "do you know that you know that you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?" After Thomas saw and touched Jesus he proclaimed "my Lord and My God!" Was it just because he saw and touched Jesus that he could say my Lord and my God? NO!

God created man with a spirit and God is a Spirit. The Bible says His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons (and daughters) of God. One may say, "that is subjective." Do we say that the Holy Spirit is subject to carnal whims and desires? NO! When a person comes, as the Heavenly Father draws them, to Christ and repents, confesses and cries to God for salvation - the Holy Spirit does the work in their minds and hearts - regardless of how much theology, philosophy or psychology ones knows or does not know.

Yes, there is evidence by extant writings all the way from the time of Old Testament to the New Testament, to the Early Church Fathers, to the Patristic Apologists, to the Middle Ages, to the Reformation, to the Great Awakenings, to the Pentecostal outpourings and the spread of the Gospel in many heathenistic, non-Christian nations. Whether one believes because they read and grasp the evidence of thousands of years that show the historical Christ and his death, burial and resurrection or whether they believe because they exercise their faith in the simple message of he death, burial and resurrection of Christ - the Holy Spirit must be the One to bring conviction, redemption and regeneration. Thank God for Jesus Christ!

If you want to read some of the discussions about the discovery of the supposed burial place of Jesus click here But be warned, it is not the burial place that Joseph of Arimathea gave for the burial of our Lord!

John 20:29-31 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.