Good Guys and Bad Guys

Yesterday in Sunday school the kids watched a video about Easter. Jesus is with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane as a mob from the chief priests and elders come to arrest him. Peter, trying to defend Jesus and stop the mob, draws his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the High Priest Caiaphas. Jesus quickly rebukes Peter, telling him this must happen in order for Scripture to be fulfilled. Luke's Gospel records that Jesus heals Malchus's ear before the mob takes him captive.
One of the teachers spoke to Dustin and me after church. She said Peter cutting off Malchus's ear bothered Ridley. He brought it up several times and she wanted us to be aware of it.

On the way home from church Ridley soon mentioned it. In his simple, sweet words he explained what upset him. It wasn't the fact that some one's ear was cut off by a sword, but something much deeper...

Ridley didn't understand if Peter was a good guy or bad guy. "If he was a good guy, why would he cut off that guy's ear?" he asked. We attempted to explain that Peter was a good guy and that he was defending Jesus. 

"But then why did he cut off ears?"

As I prepared to say the same thing again in different words, Dustin said something profound....

"Sometimes good guys make mistakes, buddy."

And as easy as that, Ridley understood. And I sat in awe by the depth, yet simplicity of that statement. I realized it sums up what Easter is all about.

I have heard it said that Christians can be "holier than thou" and judge others' sins while ignoring their own. When Christians make bad choices or mistakes some proclaim, "See, you're no better than me." Often, the public sins of professed Christians cause people to declare the whole group hypocrites.

There are two reasons these beliefs exist. First, sadly some Christians act like that. They seem to think they are holier than others. They judge people harshly, while ignoring their own shortcomings. Obviously, this is not how God wants us to behave.

But the second reason people hold these beliefs is that they fundamentally do not understand the message of the Bible. The Bible tells us that the wages for sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Because we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God, we must pay the penalty (Romans 3:23). God knew we would be unable to keep his law perfectly, so he set in motion a plan to buy us back (Revelation 13:8). He sent Jesus to live the perfect life that we could not. And then let him die in our place, bridging the gap between God's perfection and our sinful lives (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now God has transferred Jesus' righteousness to our spiritual bank account, forgiving our sins and enabling us to have a relationship with him (John 3:16-18).

So the fact of the matter is...the critics are right! We are no better than they are...we are all vile sinners...we are all hypocrites...we are helplessly, hopelessly lost...

...unless you accept Jesus' payment for your sins...and ask God to forgive you...and begin the lifelong journey of growing closer to him and trying harder to make choices that please him.

And when you do that something amazing happens!

You begin to feel uncomfortable in sin, because you want to please this precious God who suffered to pay the price for you. You want to make him happy, because he has done so much for you.
      

When I look at my sin, be it choices in my past that many know about, or the hidden ugliness that runs through my thoughts, words, and actions, I realize how far short I fall. I realize the only way I have any hope and future is by God's grace and mercy. I need help paying for all of the bad things I've done and will do in the future. I will fail, no matter how hard I try. I will fight temptation and that is pleasing to God, but each day I will fail. Even the good things I do are so full of sin...be it pride or wanting credit...they are but "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).

That is why Jesus died on the cross. And as if that wasn't enough...he rose from the dead...proving that he was who he said he was...the one and only Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).

He is my only hope.

Salvation is a gift none of us deserve, but all of us can accept. And once we do, God will show us even more how much we do not deserve it. And that will make us love him and thank him more each day.

Dustin's simple message to Ridley says it all. We all fall short...even good guys...even Peter, the one Jesus chose to start his church. We all need forgiveness. We all need The Savior!

   

Jesus, Take the Handlebars

Ridley often arrives at his grandma's to find his older cousins have brought him toys and books they do not want anymore.  A few weeks ago he found a toddler-sized two wheel bike with training wheels.  He was so excited, especially because it had a picture of Lightening McQueen on it.  He hopped on right away and started riding around the patio.
Dustin tossed the bike in the back of our car, and on the way home stopped to pick up a helmet, "a cool one with flames on it," according to Ridley.  Later that week we decided to go for a walk and let Ridley ride his bike.  Dustin walked right next to the bike ready to grab the handlebars if need be.  As we turned out of our driveway onto the road, Ridley was grinning ear to ear.  He was so proud of himself and was enjoying the ride.  But as soon as he saw a hill in the distance he said, "Daddy, there is a big hill.  Help me Daddy!"  Dustin assured him that when we got to the hill, he would help.  "You're fine right now.  I'm here.  I'll help when you need it."  A few seconds later, Ridley looked at the distant hill again.  "Help me, Daddy!  There's a hill!"
"I know, Buddy.  When we get there, I'll be right here to help.  You're ok.  You can do it.  Just keep peddling."  This same conversation continued throughout the entire bike ride.  Ridley would cry out, concerned about something he saw in the distant future, and Dustin would gently reassure him, all along having complete control over the situation.
As I watched and listened to my boys from a few yards behind, I thought...isn't that just like our relationship with Jesus?  Many of us walk through this life looking around at all of the dangers we may encounter.  We worry about loss of loved ones, sickness, financial problems, war, difficult relationships.  And all along Jesus is walking beside us, assuring us he will be there to take over and steer us through when we need it.  He reminds us that he is in control and we are safe in his care, no matter what we may encounter.
In Luke 12:6-7 Jesus says, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."   Can you imagine the love of a God who knows the number of hairs on our head on any given day?  He loves us so much, and longs for us to trust him with our future.  What a wonderful Heavenly Father we have!
Perhaps like me, you want to cry out to Ridley, "Your daddy will protect you and help you up the hill!  Just enjoy the ride!"  With that same reassurance Jesus is crying out to you, "I will help you when you need it.  I have your life under control.  All you need to do is just sit back and enjoy the ride!"

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day.  It is a day filled with joy, celebration and thanksgiving.  A time to celebrate dads who are loving and supportive...who raised and guided their children through childhood and into adulthood...who protected them from hurt when possible, and who helped them through trails when necessary.  Dads who disciplined and taught their kids the right way to live...who gave special gifts and made sacrifices, so their children could enjoy all the wonderful things life has to offer.
Many of us, myself included, will have a celebration like this today.  Sadly however, many of us will have a day filled with sorrow, grief, or even anger.  Maybe you are celebrating Father's Day without your dad.  Maybe he lives far away or maybe, like my husband's, he is in heaven.  Maybe you never had a father, or worse your father abused and mistreated you.  Whatever the case, you may not feel like celebrating today.  Maybe just the thought of Father's Day brings tears to your eyes and pain to your heart.
If this describes you, I have wonderful news!  No matter what your relationship is to your earthly father, you have a heavenly father who longs to comfort you through, not just the pain of today, but though all of life's trials.  He longs to be all that we hope our earthly fathers will be, and so much more.  He is all of the things listed above, and so much more.  He is the Alpha and Omega...The Beginning and End...Unchanging...And he loves you...And he longs for a personal relationship with you.
If you feel sorrowful today, lay your sadness at the feet of Jesus.  He is able and willing to fulfill all of your needs today, if you only ask and believe.

2 Corinthians 6:18

And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Passover

Dustin and I have been leading Sunday School at Theophilus Bible Church for the last 8 weeks.  This past Sunday was our last lesson for this session, The Old and New Testament Connection.  And we saved the best for last!  This lesson is all about the intricate details that connect the Jewish Passover to the death of Jesus.  We compiled information from several sources including Pastor Mark Biltz and GotQuestions.org.  I hope you will read it, and spend time looking up the verses.  Really reflect on our God's perfect timing.  It will amaze you!  This lesson was meant to be discussed, so feel free to write with any questions or comments.

Easter is such a precious time.  It should renew our awe of what our Savior did for us.  It is a time to reflect on God’s unspeakable plan to reconcile us to himself, so we can have a relationship with him and be grafted into his family.  Many of us understand the basic connection between Passover and Jesus’s death on the cross.  In the last year or so, we have learned that our God is a God of details, and he did not leave a detail out as he planned our redemptive story.  We hope this lesson strengthens your faith, and thrills your heart, the way it does ours.  We find this amazing!!!  It is the ultimate Old Testament / New Testament connection.  We truly saved the best connection for last!

Let’s start with the basics…Let’s read Exodus 12.

Question: "What is the Passover Lamb? How is Jesus our Passover Lamb?"

Answer: The Passover lamb was the animal God directed the Israelites to use as a sacrifice in Egypt on the night God struck down the firstborn sons of every household (Exodus 12:29). This was the final plague God issued against Pharaoh, and it led to Pharaoh releasing the Israelites from slavery (Exodus 11:1). After that fateful night, God instructed the Israelites to observe the Passover Feast as a lasting memorial (Exodus 12:14).

God instructed every household of the Israelite people to select a year-old male lamb without defect (Exodus 12:5; cf. Leviticus 22:20-21). The head of the household was to slaughter the lamb at twilight, taking care that none of its bones were broken, and apply some of its blood to the tops and sides of the doorframe of the house. The lamb was to be roasted and eaten (Exodus 12:7-8). God also gave specific instructions as to how the Israelites were to eat the lamb, “with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand (Exodus 12:11; cf. Ephesians 6:14). In other words, they had to be ready to travel.

God said that when He saw the lamb’s blood on the doorframe of a house, He would “pass over” that home and not permit “the destroyer” (Exodus 12:23) to enter. Any home without the blood of the lamb would have their firstborn son struck down that night (Exodus 12: 12-13).

The New Testament establishes a relationship between this prototypical Passover lamb and the consummate Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7). The prophet John the Baptist recognized Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), and the apostle Peter links the lamb without defect (Exodus 12:5) with Christ, whom he calls a “lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus is qualified to be called One “without blemish” because His life was completely free from sin (Hebrews 4:15). In Revelation, John the apostle sees Jesus as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6). Jesus was crucified during the time that the Passover was observed (Mark 14:12).

The Bible says believers have symbolically applied the sacrificial blood of Christ to their hearts and thus have escaped eternal death (Hebrews 9:12, 14). Just as the Passover lamb’s applied blood caused the “destroyer” to pass over each household, Christ’s applied blood causes God’s judgment to pass over sinners and gives life to believers (Romans 6:23).

As the first Passover marked the Hebrews’ release from Egyptian slavery, so the death of Christ marks our release from the slavery of sin (Romans 8:2). As the first Passover was to be held in remembrance as an annual feast, so Christians are to memorialize the Lord’s death in communion until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:26).

The Old Testament Passover lamb, although a reality in that time, was a mere foreshadowing of the better and final Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. Through His sinless life and sacrificial death, Jesus became the only One capable of giving people a way to escape death and a sure hope of eternal life (1 Peter 1:20-21).

- From www.gotquestions.org

Now let’s look even deeper into the “final Passover Lamb” and God’s intricate details…

The Hebrew word for feast is moed, which means “divine appointment”.  God planned some very specific days that he would choose to intersect human history.  God told Moses in Leviticus 23 that there were several feasts that he wanted the Jewish people to celebrate each year.  He told Moses exactly how each feast was to be celebrated.  We see the words “holy convocation” to describe what God wanted on those days, but the Hebrew word is Mikra, which can be translated, “dress rehearsal”.

God has a master plan…a clock…a calendar.  We know some of his very special days, because he set them apart as Jewish feast days.  There are spring feasts, which were fulfilled with Jesus’s first coming, and fall feasts which have yet to be fulfilled.  A strong case can be made that these feast days will be fulfilled with his second coming, but that is another lesson. 

Spring Feasts

Passover – Jesus was crucified

Feast of Unleavened Bread – Jesus was buried

Feast of First Fruits – Jesus rose from the dead

Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) - The Holy Spirt came to believers

Fall Feasts

Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) - ??? 

Israel’s National Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - ???

Feast of Tabernacles - ???

Just think:  every year for 1500 years Jews went through the “dress rehearsal” of killing the Passover lamb at 3:00 in the afternoon on Passover.  And our Lord died on Passover, not in July or December, but on Passover at 3:00 in the afternoon!  The Jews had been rehearsing for 1500 years by going through the motions God wanted for the day his son died on the cross.  In Revelation 13:8 it says Jesus had been slain since the foundation of the world.  This was all planned ahead of time.  God didn’t say, “Oh no, my son was killed…Plan B is to resurrect him.”  God planned this from the foundation of the world. 

God even had his son’s funeral songs prepared ahead of time.  God inspired David to write the songs he wanted.  We find them in Psalms.  The Jews sing many Psalms to celebrate feast days.  Matthew 23:30 tells us that at the end of the Last Supper Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn and then went to the Mount of Olives.  We can know what hymn they sang, because it was the same one all Jews sang at that point of Passover.  They would have sung the Hallel which is David’s Psalms 113-118.  That night they would have sang the words from Psalm 118:22-24, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.  The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”  How amazing is that?! 

At 9 AM the following day is the time of the morning sacrifice.  That is the hour the Priests would have bound the Passover lamb to the horns of the alter in the Temple.  At that very hour, 9 AM, according to Mark 15:25, Jesus was being bound to the cross.  At the very moment the Passover lamb was bound to the alter, they crucified our Lord.  Unbelievable!  And Jews all throughout Jerusalem would have been singing Psalm 118:27 at that moment, “God is the LORD, which has showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.”

According to Matthew 27:45, from noon until 3:00 PM, darkness came over all the land.  At this same time the Jews would have still been signing the Hallel.  Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived at that time.  He said there were 2 million Jews in Jerusalem that day to celebrate Passover.  That means there was a 2 million-man choir singing songs aloud as Jesus was dying on the cross.  They would have been singing Psalm 118:16 “The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things.” What a picture!

Matthew, Mark, and Luke each record that Jesus died about "the ninth hour" (Matthew 27:45-50, Mark 15:34-37, Luke 23:44-46).  The ninth hour is 3:00 PM.  That is the precise time the Jewish priests would have killed the Passover lamb for the evening sacrifice.…God’s perfect timing is unbelievable!

- Much of this information comes form Pastor Mark Biltz

Question:  Was the Passover lamb slaughtered at the Temple before the crucifixion of the Messiah took place?

Answer: The answer to this question is both yes and no. It should be kept in mind that there is a distinction between the first night of Passover and the first day of Passover. It is on the first night of Passover that all of the Jewish families eat the Passover meal, and Yeshua (Jesus) ate His last Passover meal on the first night of Passover. That is when He inaugurated the communion service. The next morning was the first day of Passover and at nine o'clock in the morning there was a special Passover sacrifice of which only the priesthood could eat. Yeshua was nailed to the cross on the first day of Passover at nine o'clock in the morning, which was the same time that the special Passover sacrifice was being offered up.

In the biblical practice, the lamb that was to be killed for the Passover was set aside on the tenth of the month of Nisan. It was then tested from the tenth day until the fourteenth day of that month to make sure that it was without spot and without blemish. On the fourteenth day the lamb was killed for the Passover meal. The next morning there was another lamb that was used as the Passover sacrifice for the nation of Israel. According to Exodus 12:46, the offering was slaughtered in a way that no bone of this lamb was to be broken.

Yeshua set Himself aside as the Passover Lamb. It occurred on the tenth day of the month, the same day that the physical animal was set aside. From the tenth day until the fourteenth day of the month, Yeshua was tested by the Pharisees, by the Sadducees, by the Scribes, and by the Herodians. By answering all of their objections and questions, He showed that He was without spot and without blemish. Yeshua ate the Seder meal on the first night of the Passover, the same night that all the Jewish people ate it, the fourteenth of Nisan. Yeshua died on the first day of Passover. He was crucified at nine o'clock in the morning and it was at nine o'clock in the morning that the special Passover sacrifice was offered in the Temple compound. Just as the Jews were very careful to make sure that not a single bone of the Passover lamb was broken, John 19:36 points out that not a single bone of Yeshua was broken either — not during the course of the crucifixion itself, nor by the Roman soldiers at the end of it all.

- From www.ariel.org

On the road to Emmaus we saw the two followers of Christ amazed when Jesus showed them that he was all through the Old Testament.  We have had discussions during Sunday School about Messianic Jews who have had their eyes opened to HaMashiach Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, they suddenly see all of the clues pointing to him through the Tanakh, Jewish Scriptures. 

We hope these last 8 lessons have served as your own Road to Emmaus.  We hope they have helped you see that the Old and New Testaments are very much one book, and Jesus is present from the very beginning.  God bless your continued journey, and may he give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mind to understand more and more of His precious Word!  Amen!

Patiently Waiting...

As many of your know, my father-in-law passed away this Christmas Eve after a yearlong battle with cancer.  The way he and my mother-in-law chose to worship and glorify God through their pain was truly an inspiration and lesson for all of us.  

One of the challenges my husband and I faced was explaining to Ridley why Grandpa wasn't here anymore.  They were buddies and spent a lot of time together.  We debated about how much he could understand and how much we should say.  In the end we decided to tell him that Grandpa went to heaven with Jesus where he won't feel sick anymore.  We also told him we would see Grandpa again someday when we were all in heaven together.  This seemed to satisfy him.  

At first, when we were on our way to Grandma and Grandpa's house he would say, "Will Grandpa be there?"  We would remind him that Grandpa is with Jesus in heaven.  Then he would say, "Grandpa went to heaven AGAIN?"  It seemed that he was waiting for Grandpa to get back, as if he was just on a short vacation.  After several weeks, he stopped saying that.  In fact he started saying, "We are just going to Grandma's because Grandpa is in heaven."   

In the car this week, Ridley said, "We are just going to Grandma's because Grandpa isn't back yet."  My initial reaction was pity, because I realized Ridley didn't understand that Grandpa wasn't coming back.  Then I almost felt that I should correct him, so he didn't have his hopes dashed when too much time went by and Grandpa was still in heaven.  

But then as quickly as these thoughts entered, a third thought flooded my mind...Ridley is right!

When we have Jesus Christ as our Savior, one who paid the price for our sins so we can enter into eternity with him, we have a promise to hold on to.  The promise is that we will see Jesus face to face and we will be reunited with our loved ones who also knew him.  If we believe that, truly believe that, we should all say, "Grandpa isn't back yet."  It is just a matter of time before we go on to heaven ourselves or Jesus returns for his church in the rapture.  Either way, we will see our loved ones again soon.  

Life is so very short.  James 4:14 says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  We spend our short time on so many things that won't last into eternity.  We rush around stressed out, working hard to make money, using entertainment to clear our minds and stuff to fill our emptiness.  And none of it will last.  In fact we will leave it all behind to rot.  But what will live on will be our relationship with Jesus and the things we do to show him we love him.  Our obedience to him will last.  Spreading his good news will last.  The ways we love and serve our neighbors will last.

The Bible says, "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3)  When you are grieving the loss of a loved one or going through a storm in this life, it may feel that time drags on.  It may feel like God's timing is wrong.  But keep your eyes on Jesus and his promises.  Keep Ridley's outlook on life, even if it seems naive.  Rest and say, "Grandpa isn't here yet."           

On Our Road to Emmaus

We are beginning a Sunday School series about the connections between the Old and New Testament.  Often, people view these two books very differently.  They doubt the truth of the stories and scoff at the wrath of God in the Old Testament.  Yet they embrace the forgiveness of Christ in the New Testament.  We would argue, you can't have it both ways.  Either the entire Bible is the Word of God and totally and completely true, or we cannot depend on the sacrifice and forgiveness of Jesus to forgive our sins.  We cannot pick and choose what we like about the Bible, because there is no guarantee the things we chose are eternally true.  We must accept all that God said, or none of it.  As C.S. Lewis wrote, Jesus was either who he said he was, the Son of God and the ONLY way to eternal life, or he was a madman and liar.  It doesn't work both ways. In this series we will attempt to show how Jesus was present in the Old Testament and the direct correlation between both parts of Holy Scripture.  We pray this study will strengthen your walk with Christ.  Please write to me with any questions or comments. Because this is a Sunday School lesson, it is meant to be discussed.

Old and New Testament Connection Week 1:

“On our road to Emmaus”

TBC Sunday School

 January 11, 2015

 Tenille & Dustin Shrock

“I believe that the Holy Spirit is indispensable for an interpreter's reaching a correct interpretation of the text. The Spirit must work in the interpreter's heart so that he or she welcomes the biblical message that one's egotistic, sinful heart otherwise hates with a vengeance.” – Dr. Daniel Fuller author of The Unity of the Bible

Let’s pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mind to understand what God's Word says…

Lets’ talk about common criticisms of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament…

Let’s face it…sometimes it is difficult to believe those old testament stories, because things seem so different than what we see around us today.  What should we do when we come across something that we find difficult to believe? 

Hebrews 11:6     Matthew 17:20     John 20:24-29

 Let's read how David Limbaugh views the unity of the Bible...

David Limbaugh: The Bible: Product Of A Divine Conspiracy

In my new book, "Jesus on Trial," I explain how the Bible itself serves as its own apologetic. Holy Scripture, if we'll give it a chance, can bring us to faith. So one of the main goals I have with my book is to encourage people to crack open this amazing book and give it a chance to work in their lives. They may be surprised.

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). "From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).

I must say that I didn't always have this high opinion of the Bible. When I was a young lawyer, in my skeptical days, I was visiting my friend Peter Kinder, now Missouri lieutenant governor, at Christmastime. He had brought some of his law school classmates home to stay at his parents' home during the Christmas break.

Peter, his friend Steve Springer and I were sitting around the fireplace discussing various things, when the subject of Christianity came up; I can't remember who initiated the discussion. I allowed as how I did not buy into Christianity and wasn't at all sure about Christ's divinity, among other things.

Steve - who was a devout believer, as it turned out - surprised me. He didn't fit my stereotypical image of Christians at the time. Had I known he was a strong believer, I would have expected him to wag his finger at me and scold me for my irreverence, but he did just the opposite. (By the way, this is no slam on Christians; it's just the impression I had at the time of many of them, and I was wrong.)

Steve responded patiently and graciously. It was as if he knew, intuitively, what Christian apologist extraordinaire Ravi Zacharias now teaches his students. It is just as important, says Zacharias, that the evangelist focus on the questioner as it is that he focus on his questions. In other words, really pay attention to the person you’re talking to, and try to meet him where he is. Don't just give him some bullet points about the validity of the Christian faith; otherwise, your words are very likely to have no effect.

Steve didn't rebuke me for questioning Christ's divinity or for doubting certain doctrinal teachings. He just quietly excused himself from the conversation for a few moments, went to his guest bedroom, retrieved his Bible and returned.

At the appropriate time - without being overbearing, judgmental or arrogant - he simply opened up that brown leather-covered book and walked me through certain passages of Scripture. He then pointed out how these passages were linked to other passages that spoke to the same subject. As far as I know, it was the first time I'd ever been introduced to a reference Bible.

Lights went off. I know, I know - it's embarrassing how ignorant I was. I didn't realize the extent to which the Bible - Old Testament and New Testament - was wholly integrated. It truly fascinated me and piqued my interest. Intuiting my interest, Steve gave me that Bible on the spot.

I didn't become a believer immediately as a result of Steve's enlightening gesture. But he had planted a critically important seed for my spiritual journey, which would later bear fruit.

Steve had no earthly idea the impact he had on me. I know that for a fact because when he was visiting Peter many years later, the two of them came by my house to see me. While we were all sitting at the table catching up, I excused myself from the room, went to my library, retrieved that very Bible and returned to the room. I told the story of how important this moment, some 20 years ago, had been in my life. Steve was moved and, I believe, quite gratified.

This incident should be encouraging to Christians. Don't ever assume that your evangelism is having no impact just because you see no immediate evidence of it. Not everyone's conversion is the result of some "lightning bolt" epiphany. It often happens gradually and over an extended period of time.

Steve's particular approach to me has also been very significant because one of the most compelling proofs to me of Christianity's truth claims is the marvelous unity of Scripture, to which Steve initially exposed me.

I am so moved by the unity of the Bible that I devoted a chapter to the subject in my book. As many know, the Bible was written over a period of some 1,500 years by 40 different authors, writing in different languages and different geographical locations. Yet the themes, the moral lessons and God's revelation about his nature are consistent throughout. It's as if it were the product of a conspiracy.

But how can that be? Most of the Bible writers didn't even know one another. Well, it can be because the true author of the Bible is God. It was a conspiracy, all right, but not by human hands. It was a divine conspiracy.

 (We highly recommend David Limbaugh's new book Jesus on Trial.)

Before we can study the connections between the two parts of Scripture, we must agree the entire Bible is the Word of God, true from beginning to end…but how do we know?

From GotQuestions.org:

There are both internal and external evidences that the Bible is truly God’s Word.

1.   Its unity - Even though it is really sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years, by more than 40 authors who came from many walks of life, the Bible remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction. This unity is unique from all other books and is evidence of the divine origin of the words which God moved men to record.

2.  Its prophecies - The Bible contains hundreds of detailed prophecies relating to the future of individual nations including Israel, certain cities, and mankind. Other prophecies concern the coming of One who would be the Messiah, the Savior of all who would believe in Him. Unlike the prophecies found in other religious books or those by men such as Nostradamus, biblical prophecies are extremely detailed. There are over three hundred prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Not only was it foretold where He would be born and His lineage, but also how He would die and that He would rise again. There simply is no logical way to explain the fulfilled prophecies in the Bible other than by divine origin. There is no other religious book with the extent or type of predictive prophecy that the Bible contains.

And today we live in the unique generation that is seeing the future prophecies of Revelation (as well as many other books of the Bible) coming to fruition right before our eyes. –Tenille J

3.  Its unique authority and power - The Bible’s authority is unlike any other book ever written. This authority and power are best seen in the way countless lives have been transformed by the supernatural power of God’s Word. Drug addicts have been cured by it, hardened criminals reformed by it, sinners rebuked by it, and hate turned to love by it. The Bible does possess a dynamic and transforming power that is only possible because it is truly God’s Word.

4.  Its accurate history - Because the Bible details historical events, its truthfulness and accuracy are subject to verification like any other historical document. Through both archaeological evidences and other writings, the historical accounts of the Bible have been proven time and time again to be accurate and true. In fact, all the archaeological and manuscript evidence supporting the Bible makes it the best-documented book from the ancient world. The fact that the Bible accurately and truthfully records historically verifiable events is a great indication of its truthfulness when dealing with religious subjects and doctrines and helps substantiate its claim to be the very Word of God.

5.  Its integrity of its human authors - As mentioned earlier, God used men from many walks of life to record His words. In studying the lives of these men, we find them to be honest and sincere. The fact that they were willing to die often excruciating deaths for what they believed testifies that these ordinary yet honest men truly believed God had spoken to them. The men who wrote the New Testament and many hundreds of other believers (1 Corinthians 15:6) knew the truth of their message because they had seen and spent time with Jesus Christ after He had risen from the dead. Seeing the risen Christ had a tremendous impact on them. They went from hiding in fear to being willing to die for the message God had revealed to them. Their lives and deaths testify to the fact that the Bible truly is God’s Word.

6.  Its indestructibility- Because of its importance and its claim to be the very Word of God, the Bible has suffered more vicious attacks and attempts to destroy it than any other book in history. From early Roman Emperors like Diocletian, through communist dictators and on to modern-day atheists and agnostics, the Bible has withstood and outlasted all of its attackers and is still today the most widely published book in the world.

Throughout time, skeptics have regarded the Bible as mythological, but archeology has confirmed it as historical. Opponents have attacked its teaching as primitive and outdated, but its moral and legal concepts and teachings have had a positive influence on societies and cultures throughout the world. It continues to be attacked by pseudo-science, psychology, and political movements, yet it remains just as true and relevant today as it was when it was first written. It is a book that has transformed countless lives and cultures throughout the last 2000 years. No matter how its opponents try to attack, destroy, or discredit it, the Bible remains; its veracity and impact on lives is unmistakable. The accuracy which has been preserved despite every attempt to corrupt, attack, or destroy it is clear testimony to the fact that the Bible is truly God’s Word and is supernaturally protected by Him. It should not surprise us that, no matter how the Bible is attacked, it always comes out unchanged and unscathed. After all, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Mark 13:31). After looking at the evidence, one can say without a doubt that, yes, the Bible is truly God’s Word.

We need to get away from viewing the Old Testament and New Testament as two separate books.  If we search for the connections, our faith will be strengthened and our walk with God will become more amazing, as we see how he crafted his Word to reveal who he is, and is crafting our life to bring us closer to him, and ultimately to live with him in a perfect eternity.

Let’s read Luke 24:13-35 The Road to Emmaus.

In this story two disciples are walking along the road discussing how Jesus, the one they thought was the Messiah, was killed, buried and then his body disappeared.  As they are talking, much like we would discuss a tragedy that had recently happened in our town, the resurrected Jesus appears to them.  They do not recognize him, but go on to tell him this crazy story about Jesus.  Jesus then explains that they should have known the Messiah would be crucified, buried, and resurrected.  He explains all of the Old Testament Scripture that have predicted what would happen to him and he shows them all of the stories that pointed to him as the Christ.  The men are amazed.  They do not want him to leave, in fact they invite him to eat with them.  He accepts their invitation, and just as he is breaking bread, he opens their eyes and they recognize him...and then he disappears.  The men are overcome with joy, and run to tell their friends that it is true!  Jesus is risen and he is the one true Lord...and all of the Old Testament pointed to him.

What can we learn from this story?

1.  Jesus met the men on the road, right where they were...confused.  He meets us where we are and will teach and guide us.  

2.  Once the men had a little time with Jesus, they didn't want him to leave.  When we experience quality time with the Lord, we will want more and more.

3.  In time, Jesus opened the eyes of the men to the truth.  If we seek and trust him, he will help us understand the things that are confusing in Scripture.

4.  When the men realized it was Jesus, they couldn't wait to run and tell their friends.  When we have experienced a personal relationship with Jesus, and we begin to grow, learn and experience his blessings, we will want to run and tell those we love!

***Next week we will look at how the story of creation and Adam and Eve connect to the New Testament.  If you would like to, read Genesis 1-3.