Today's question is one that Pastor has heard most often from young people. The questioning of the Gospels seems to center around miracles, especially the resurrection.

Atheistic Materialism Worldview ⁃ No God - universe is by chance ⁃ Matter only - Life came from non-life ⁃ No Miracles - Life is meaningless

Bible's Worldview ⁃ There is a Creator ⁃ He created life ⁃ Life has a purpose

These two worldviews are in conflict with each other but careful analysis of the Bible shows the Biblical worldview to be trustworthy.

No matter your worldview - there is evidence of the Biblical worldview.

THE FOUR GOSPELS: ⁃ The Gospels are Jewish in both their content, background and details ⁃ Matthew - Genealogy + 55 quotations ⁃ Mark begins with Old Testament quote ⁃ John: "In the beginning…" just like Genesis starts ⁃ Luke: Priesthood + "deathbed prayer" Luke 23:46 + Psalm 31:5 (Jesus spoke this prayer "into your hands…") ⁃ Geographical knowledge - written by people familiar with the territory ⁃ 26 different towns; Sea of Galilee, etc. ⁃ Up to/Down from Jerusalem ⁃ John: 2 pools - Bethesda + Siloam (archeological proof has been found) ⁃ 2 Gardens - Gethsemane + Golgotha ⁃ Details ⁃ Common Jewish names in Israel ⁃ Clarification: e.g. frequently used names: Simon…Mary… thus the need for the clarity given in the Gospel around common names ⁃ Dill and cumin dispute (Mt 23:23) things known at only a specific time in history ⁃ Tax Collectors in Capernaum/Jericho ⁃ Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic languages ⁃ Identity - not the most likely candidates to have written the Gospels ⁃ Interesting names of Gospel authors ⁃ Matthew = former tax collector ⁃ Mark = not one of the original 12 ⁃ Luke = physician, Gentile(?) ⁃ John = Jesus' closest friend ⁃ Dating - when were they written? Everything that we have suggests that these books were written early and are accurate ⁃ The Gospels reflect the "early days" of the Jesus movement. Jesus is Jewish, the 12 disciples were Jewish, the early believers were Jewish - The Gospels speak from a Jewish view ⁃ Passover within Jerusalem's walls ⁃ Best documented texts from antiquity ⁃ Paul quotes Luke's Gospel (1 Tim 5:18 from Lk 10:7 and 1 Cor 11:24-25 from Lk 22:19-20) ⁃ But this verse is a stumbling block for acceptance to the gospels because it is "productive prophecy": Jesus said, "Jerusalem will be destroyed…"

And that brings us back around to the word: MIRACLES.

If your worldview is that of atheistic materialism, a miracle / predictive prophecy would seem impossible.

But if you believe there is a God and that He is the Creator then He does these things.

If Jesus is…. who He claimed to be… who the Gospels declare Him to be…. who the Old Testament said He would be…

Then that Good News in the Gospels changes everything the Gospels deserve to be observed they call us to believe it is not irrational it is not foolish the Gospels make perfect sense it is rational it is reasonable and Jesus alone offers life forever and He invites you and me to receive what He freely gives.

May we each respond to His Word of truth as we see it proclaimed by those early eye witnesses. Pick up a Bible and read it today!

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Questions - Week 19: Are the Gospels Believable?