If Jesus Came Today

What would be your reaction if you heard about a man who could raise the dead, heal the sick with a word, or cast out devils with only a word? Would you be skeptical when this man gave you to understand that he was God? Would you believe?

Imagine your reaction if you had lived in Galilee or Nazareth when Jesus began his ministry... Perhaps you lived next door to Joseph and Mary with Jesus and his brothers growing up like all children. Everyone in the village knew the story of how Mary had been with child before the birth of her son Jesus. Joseph had taken Mary to be his wife in spite of her shame. Joseph gave Mary the protection of his name even though she had betrayed her betrothal vows.

No one spoke of the shame any more. Mary was a respectable housewife who raised her children in the admonition of the Lord. Joseph was the head of the house and his children, including Jesus, were taught the commandments of the Torah. He was a mischievous boy like his brothers. He worked hard and learned to be a carpenter like his father.

The years passed and you watched your neighbor grow into manhood with a love for the Law of Moses. He was a happy young man. Then something happened on his thirtieth birthday. Jesus sought out his cousin John who was something of a wild man. John lived in the wilderness and preached that the messiah was coming at last. He was provocative and controversial. No one knew what to make of him.

Jesus found John at the Jordan River and asked John to baptize him. People who were there claimed that John said that Jesus was the Son of God! Blasphemy! Everyone knew there was only one God! You were shocked and appalled at such a claim. What had happened to that nice young boy you knew?

The next three years passed so fast! Jesus began to preach to crowds of people all over the country. One day he was in Nazareth and the next day or so found him in Samaria. Word trickled back to Jesus hometown and you, his neighbor, wondered how such things could be possible. Jesus had been so ordinary when he was growing up next door! Now people said he healed sick people. Even the blind were given back their sight! How could this be possible? People began to worship Jesus and others were shocked! Then the priests turned against Jesus and brought him to trial. He was beaten unmercifully and killed on the cross!

Then Jesus came back to life. He was seen by so many people. You wanted to see for yourself so you joined the crowd who followed Jesus to the Mount of Olives. He was alive! He was speaking to the crowd. How could this be possible? You watched with everyone else as Jesus slowly rose into the clouds and disappeared. Five hundred people stood on the Mount of Olives that day! Five hundred people heard Jesus command them to go back to the Upper Room and wait for the promise of the father to come.

You walked back home while some rushed to Jerusalem and the upper room. What had happened? Could Jesus really be the son of God? Really?

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This is a brief review of the events that signaled the birth of the Christian religion. What would you do if Jesus was your neighbor that you watched grow from a child? Would you be willing to accept him as God? Thomas was one of Jesus’ disciples who refused to believe without seeing the scars in his hands and feet. It is very easy to condemn Thomas for his unbelief. But would you be as doubtful? Jesus blessed those who believed without seeing the scars.

John 20: 29 NLT

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Every believer today has taken the story of Jesus Christ on faith. No one alive can testify about what actually happened during these events. Because we have no personal experience. I wonder what people would believe if this exact sequence of events were played out before us today. Would you believe that Jesus is God? Technology places the world in our living rooms. We are skeptical and doubtful. We understand that things can be made to seem real that are not.

I am a believer. I have no doubts. And yet, I wonder about those long ago witnesses who had to accept the reality that the God of heaven was walking among them. It must have been mind boggling and overwhelming. It definitely was humbling. I wonder what choice would I have made if I had been standing in the crowd on that long ago day. I hope it would have been the right one.