Can we believe the reports? These past two years have seen an increase of conflicting information on the internet. The two disciples walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus experienced something similar.
Conflicting Reports
These two believers had heard reports about the women that had gone to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. They said that the grave was empty, and angels had told them that Jesus rose from the dead. Even Peter and John had checked the tomb and found it empty. But could Jesus have come back to life? That sounded too good to be true.
On the other hand, the chief priests said that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus to perpetuate the story that Jesus Himself had told. After Jesus had fed the thousands, He spoke to His disciples. Mark 8: 31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later, he would rise from the dead. [1]
Jesus predicted His death a second time after the transfiguration. Mark 9:31b“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”[2] The third time Jesus predicted His death as they were heading to Jerusalem for the Passover. Mark 10: 33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”[3]
What to Believe?
The two disciples on the way to Emmaus weren’t part of the twelve disciples but appeared to be in the larger group of followers of Jesus. They knew Jesus was a prophet but were discouraged because He had died. They could believe the women’s report of the empty tomb earlier in the day or choose to find it beyond belief. It appears that they had chosen the second option.
A.W. Tozer said, “The gospel is light but only the Spirit can give sight.”[4]
It is the Holy Spirit that can reveal the truth to us. John 16: 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. [5] When we have conflicting reports of “truth,” we can turn to the Holy Spirit and ask Him for the truth. He will reveal the truth and guide us in our daily lives in the spiritual realm.
Can we believe the reports? Click here to hear more:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/foreshadowing-the-cross-resurrection
[1-3,5] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
[4] Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 561). Tyndale House Publishers.