Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. Matthew 24:23

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. Matthew 24:23

In case you haven’t heard, the Discovery Channel aired a documentary this past Sunday evening in which the claim was made that archaeologists may have found the burial spot of Jesus and His family. If the story were true, the news that Jesus’ “body” has been found would undermine Christianity, which claims that the Savior rose from the dead, and there are no bones to be found.

The key words in the above statement are, “If the story were true”. Since the program aired, it seems people have been divided into two groups. These two groups are those who believe the Bible is inspired and inerrant and those who think the Scriptures lied about Jesus physical resurrection from the dead on the third day.

That’s not surprising since the world has always been divided into two groups—believers and doubters. The believers are those who know Jesus is the world’s living Savior, and the doubters are those who want to push Christ back into His tomb and say, “Look, here is the Christ.”

You may wonder if there is any Christian response to what Dr. Paul Maier calls, “the latest in the long-running media attack on the historical Jesus.” The answer is, “yes.” The Reverend Doctor Paul Maier, Professor of Archaeology and a Vice-President of the LCMS, has raised some good points. For example, why would a poor family like that of Jesus have a very expensive burial site in the same city where He was crucified? Why is there no Christian, Jewish or secular tradition which says Jesus, or some of His family were buried in Jerusalem? The Jewish archaeologist who first investigated the site says, "It makes a great story for a TV film, but it's completely impossible."

If time allowed, Dr. Maier, along with myself, a host of respected historians, and archaeologists could continue this discussion. Let me instead point you to the Savior’s warning given to those who would come after Him, "If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ! Do not believe it.'"

THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I give thanks that all scripture is given by Your inspiration. I rejoice that in the pages of Holy Write, You give that which is necessary for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. I give thanks that You have blessed me with all that I need to have eternal life. In the Name of the RISEN Savior, I pray it. Amen.

Today's Bible Readings: Leviticus 23-24    Mark 10:32-52

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