Hello! It's been a super long time, but I've trying to make my other blog include some of the stuff I usually write here because to be frank, it's less work! 😛
Anyways, the one thing that has been on my mind lately is this: If I had lived in Jesus's time when he was preaching on Earth, how would I have reacted to him?
This is kind of a really crazy thought to think about because knowing what I know now about the Bible, Jesus, the resurrection, the Old & New Testament, scientific evidence, and witnessing Revelation taking place under our very own noses, it's way easier to believe in Jesus as the Son of God now than it was 2000 years ago!
Let's break it down into some things that I would have personally struggled with if I was alive in Jesus' time. I mean, to be plain and simple, Christianity didn't exist until Jesus rose from the dead! So I would have to assume that I was either a Jew or Gentile at the time. It's historically inaccurate probably, but let's say I (an Asian) was a Jew at the time and knew scripture. That means I would have expected the Messiah to be arriving.
#1: I would have really questioned if Jesus was the One.
I would have been researching a lot. Asking everyone at the temple about how the Messiah was to come and under what circumstances. I would then compare it to how Jesus was born and all the information about him at the time. I would have gone to see him several times. I would have really tried to get a sense if he was truthful or not. I definitely would have prayed a lot, asking God for enlightenment.
#2: I would have given Jesus a chance.
I would have listened to what he had to say and soaked it in. I wouldn't be in favour or against it at first, I would just take it in and think about it. Just like a music artist, I would have followed him and tried to see what he was talking about more. I would have asked the disciples if they thought Jesus was the real deal and if they understood what he was saying. But most importantly, I definitely wouldn't have been like the pharisees and just written him off/tried to get rid of him.
#3: I would have been compelled by Jesus.
When Jesus speaks in the Bible, his words, stories, parables, lessons, etc. are some of the greatest pieces of spoken word ever! If someone was speaking to me like that in person at a time where people were not speaking like that at all, I would have been so intrigued! Then the miracles! If I was at the feeding of 5,000 or saw him heal blind, deaf, demon possessed, dead people, that would have been the deal maker for me right then and there! When I read the New Testament, the one thing that always makes no sense to me is how people couldn't have believed when miracles happened right in front of their eyes. Today, I understand why people think miracles are just good luck or a coincidence. It's because they can't see the miracle worker. But back in Jesus's time, the miracle worker was right there!!
#4: I would have been scared to follow Jesus, but I would've still believed.
Let's be real for a second, following Jesus during those times and as a woman was not an easy task. They trekked all over Judea and often found themselves not knowing where they were going to sleep or what they were going to eat. Almost like homeless people. I'm not sure I would've survived. But in another sense, I would've been scared to follow Jesus and then proclaim it. I would've secretly followed Jesus in my heart, but if someone would've asked me. I might have been like Peter and denied it. Jesus was a wanted man, and it's scary to put all your hope in someone who was despised by the government, the religious leaders, makers of the law, and basically anyone with power.
#5: I would've been shocked to witness Jesus' death.
Even though it's prophesied in the Old Testament, Jesus' death would have been a deafening blow to my heart. I'm not sure I would have fully understood why he needed to die and why he didn't let his followers/disciples fight for him. I think a part of me would've have die with him on that cross. I can't even imagine watching the Son of God die in person. There are really no words.
#6: I would've been even more shocked when I heard of his resurrection. And even more so if I had seen him walking around after he had died!
Dead man walking is not something you really want to witness. When someone dies, they are dead. But Jesus...oh man...if I saw him just walking around after he had died and I had seen him die, I would've been scared out of my mind. And if I hadn't believed that he was God before, I would've believed now. Even if I had heard all the witness accounts of Jesus's resurrection, that would have shocked my system. It's one thing for one or two people to say that Jesus was resurrected, but hundreds...there's no denying that. And just the fact that no one was denying that Jesus' body was gone/missing/disappeared from the tomb and nowhere to be found would've been enough to tell me that the scriptures were right. They had correctly predicted that Jesus would rise again and Jesus' own words before his death were true.
#7: I would have been freakishly scared to be among the first Christian church because of how much they were being persecuted. But after seeing Jesus -- our leader -- defy death itself, his story was worth being told and his gift to humanity was worth being shared.
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So there it is. As you can tell, I wouldn't have hopped on the Jesus train immediately. I definitely would've had my reservations and needed to do some research. But I definitely would have been scared to death once I realized that Jesus was the One because there's one thing about Jesus that makes everyone uncomfortable whether it's now or 2000 years ago: How willing are you to give up this life so you can pursue eternal life? Jesus is truly polarizing, but the epitome of love and safety at the same time. I can't imagine life without him and that's how I know that I will always believe.
G.O.L.F.
Anyways, the one thing that has been on my mind lately is this: If I had lived in Jesus's time when he was preaching on Earth, how would I have reacted to him?
This is kind of a really crazy thought to think about because knowing what I know now about the Bible, Jesus, the resurrection, the Old & New Testament, scientific evidence, and witnessing Revelation taking place under our very own noses, it's way easier to believe in Jesus as the Son of God now than it was 2000 years ago!
Let's break it down into some things that I would have personally struggled with if I was alive in Jesus' time. I mean, to be plain and simple, Christianity didn't exist until Jesus rose from the dead! So I would have to assume that I was either a Jew or Gentile at the time. It's historically inaccurate probably, but let's say I (an Asian) was a Jew at the time and knew scripture. That means I would have expected the Messiah to be arriving.
#1: I would have really questioned if Jesus was the One.
I would have been researching a lot. Asking everyone at the temple about how the Messiah was to come and under what circumstances. I would then compare it to how Jesus was born and all the information about him at the time. I would have gone to see him several times. I would have really tried to get a sense if he was truthful or not. I definitely would have prayed a lot, asking God for enlightenment.
#2: I would have given Jesus a chance.
I would have listened to what he had to say and soaked it in. I wouldn't be in favour or against it at first, I would just take it in and think about it. Just like a music artist, I would have followed him and tried to see what he was talking about more. I would have asked the disciples if they thought Jesus was the real deal and if they understood what he was saying. But most importantly, I definitely wouldn't have been like the pharisees and just written him off/tried to get rid of him.
#3: I would have been compelled by Jesus.
When Jesus speaks in the Bible, his words, stories, parables, lessons, etc. are some of the greatest pieces of spoken word ever! If someone was speaking to me like that in person at a time where people were not speaking like that at all, I would have been so intrigued! Then the miracles! If I was at the feeding of 5,000 or saw him heal blind, deaf, demon possessed, dead people, that would have been the deal maker for me right then and there! When I read the New Testament, the one thing that always makes no sense to me is how people couldn't have believed when miracles happened right in front of their eyes. Today, I understand why people think miracles are just good luck or a coincidence. It's because they can't see the miracle worker. But back in Jesus's time, the miracle worker was right there!!
#4: I would have been scared to follow Jesus, but I would've still believed.
Let's be real for a second, following Jesus during those times and as a woman was not an easy task. They trekked all over Judea and often found themselves not knowing where they were going to sleep or what they were going to eat. Almost like homeless people. I'm not sure I would've survived. But in another sense, I would've been scared to follow Jesus and then proclaim it. I would've secretly followed Jesus in my heart, but if someone would've asked me. I might have been like Peter and denied it. Jesus was a wanted man, and it's scary to put all your hope in someone who was despised by the government, the religious leaders, makers of the law, and basically anyone with power.
#5: I would've been shocked to witness Jesus' death.
Even though it's prophesied in the Old Testament, Jesus' death would have been a deafening blow to my heart. I'm not sure I would have fully understood why he needed to die and why he didn't let his followers/disciples fight for him. I think a part of me would've have die with him on that cross. I can't even imagine watching the Son of God die in person. There are really no words.
#6: I would've been even more shocked when I heard of his resurrection. And even more so if I had seen him walking around after he had died!
Dead man walking is not something you really want to witness. When someone dies, they are dead. But Jesus...oh man...if I saw him just walking around after he had died and I had seen him die, I would've been scared out of my mind. And if I hadn't believed that he was God before, I would've believed now. Even if I had heard all the witness accounts of Jesus's resurrection, that would have shocked my system. It's one thing for one or two people to say that Jesus was resurrected, but hundreds...there's no denying that. And just the fact that no one was denying that Jesus' body was gone/missing/disappeared from the tomb and nowhere to be found would've been enough to tell me that the scriptures were right. They had correctly predicted that Jesus would rise again and Jesus' own words before his death were true.
#7: I would have been freakishly scared to be among the first Christian church because of how much they were being persecuted. But after seeing Jesus -- our leader -- defy death itself, his story was worth being told and his gift to humanity was worth being shared.
-----
So there it is. As you can tell, I wouldn't have hopped on the Jesus train immediately. I definitely would've had my reservations and needed to do some research. But I definitely would have been scared to death once I realized that Jesus was the One because there's one thing about Jesus that makes everyone uncomfortable whether it's now or 2000 years ago: How willing are you to give up this life so you can pursue eternal life? Jesus is truly polarizing, but the epitome of love and safety at the same time. I can't imagine life without him and that's how I know that I will always believe.
G.O.L.F.