“The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.” — Robert Flatt
Information alone rarely changes lives. But when someone experiences the truth, their future is often changed for good. This is certainly the case with Jesus. Sure, people's lives get changed for all sorts of different reasons, but the transformation that we see in the disciples’ lives is irrefutable evidence that they believed they had encountered the living Christ.
Remember the disciples back in the Garden of Gethsemane? At the first threat of real danger, “everyone deserted him and fled” (Mark 14:50). But then, “Bam!” Just like that, something changed. These guys became radical and fearless, willing to give their lives in the name of Jesus Christ. What happened?
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. —John 20:19-20
This encounter with the living Christ completely transformed them from men who were hiding behind “doors locked for fear of the Jews" into an unstoppable team. History and tradition show us that the disciples were tortured, exiled, and killed because they wouldn’t shut up about their encounter with the resurrected Christ.
- James of Zebedee — Beheaded, A.D. 44
- Philip — Scourged and crucified in Phrygia
- Matthew — Martyred in Ethiopia, A.D. 60
- James — Stoned and clubbed, A.D. 94
- Matthias — (Judas’ replacement) Stoned, beheaded in Jerusalem
- Andrew — Crucified in Edessa
- Peter — Crucified
- Bartholomew — Beaten and crucified in India
- Thomas — Thrust with a spear
- Simon the Zealot — Crucified, A.D. 74
- Judas of James — Crucified in Edessa, A.D. 72
- John — Exiled to Patmos
Listen to Pete, Jill & Stuart Briscoe on the Telling the Truth broadcast at OnePlace.com
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