WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN (Part III)

WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN (Part III)

 I AM A BELIEVER.  Today, I will share more of my faith perspective, detailing yet another reason undergirding my decision to be a Christian disciple.  Indeed, there are many.

 REASON #3

The original disciples personally experienced the teachings and miracles of Jesus Christ.  In fact, they were eyewitnesses to His resurrection; and subsequently, they were willing to experience ostracism, suffering and even martyrdom as a direct result of their abundant faith in Him.  The lives and testimonies of these courageous men comprise a significant and powerful reason why I am firmly established in the Christian faith.

 Consider this: If Jesus had NOT existed, if Jesus had NOT performed miraculous works, or if Jesus had NOT risen from the dead, would these men have been available and willing to suffer such extreme persecution, physical suffering and even death in His name?  I think not.

 In the American system of jurisprudence, the most important determiner of guilt or innocence (other than the jury itself) is the WITNESS that is summoned to the bar for testimony.  Each witness establishes the credibility (or lack thereof) of the defendant, regarding his/her alleged actions.  Consider the PRIMARY WITNESSES who confirmed and affirmed the teachings, miracles and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST.

 ANDREW, the brother of Peter, was a fisherman before Jesus called him.  He was crucified and died as a martyr in Achaia, Greece.

 BARTHOLOMEW lived in Cana of Galilee. This was actually his second name; his first name was NATHANIEL, whom Jesus called “An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.” (John 1:47)  The Armenian Church claims him as its founder.  He died as a martyr in India, flayed alive with sharp knives.

 JAMES, THE ELDER, was the brother of John the Apostle.  Also a fisherman, he preached in Jerusalem and Judea and was beheaded by Herod in AD 44.  He was a member of Christ’s inner circle and the first of the twelve to become a martyr.

 JAMES, THE YOUNGER, lived in Galilee and was the brother of the Apostle Jude.  He preached in Palestine and Egypt.  Eventually, he was crucified in Egypt and his body was cruelly sawn into pieces.

 JOHN, “the beloved disciple” and part of the inner circle, was the brother of James, the Apostle.  He preached in Asia Minor.  Banished to the Isle of Patmos, he was later freed and died a natural death.  An unsuccessful attempt was made on his life via a chalice of poison, but he died later from natural causes.

 JUDE, also called Thaddeus, was the brother of James the Younger.  He preached in Assyria and later in Persia, where he died from arrow wounds.

 MATTHEW, also called Levi, lived in Capernaum.  He was a publican or tax collector.  He wrote the gospel that bears his name and died as a martyr in Ethiopia.

 SIMON PETER, also known as Cephas, was a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum.  He famously confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God, yet denied him on crucifixion day.  He did evangelistic and missionary work among the Jews and ultimately was crucified upside-down in Rome.

 PHILIP, also a fisherman, came from Bethsaida and preached in Phyrgia.  He was a highly effective missionary who died as a martyr in Hierapolis.

 SIMON, the Zealot, was one of the little-known followers of Jesus who lived in Galilee.  Tradition says he was crucified as a martyr.

 THOMAS DIDYMUS lived in Galilee and preached in Parthia, Persia and India.  He suffered martyrdom near Madras, India, at a place now called Mount St. Thomas.

 Each of these men had an UP-CLOSE-AND-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.  They lived and traveled with him during 3½ years of public ministry.  They beheld his awesome miracles, the multiplicity of signs and wonders that emanated daily from His person and work.  Importantly, they were EYEWITNESSES OF HIS RESURRECTION, directly seeing Him, conversing with Him, dining with Him and being taught Kingdom principles for a period of forty days after He arose.  Finally, they personally witnessed His ascension into Heaven.

 No level of threat, persecution, pain, or even death was ever able to cause any one of them to recant his faith in The Living Christ.  Their unwavering steadfastness is just another piece in the puzzle of my personal belief.  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!