tell-tale sign
"They brought Peter and John before them and began the interrogation in this fashion: 'By what power or in whose name have men of your stripe done this?' " —Acts 4:7
Possibly the greatest proof of the resurrection is not the empty tomb or Jesus' various appearances but the transformation of His disciples. Before His resurrection and Pentecost, Peter denied Christ three times, and the other apostles, with the exception of John (Jn 19:26), didn't even have enough courage to put themselves in a dangerous, "deniable" position. Peter was the most courageous of the lot but still a coward.
After Pentecost, however, Peter and the disciples boldly stood before thousands and proclaimed the risen Christ. Even in court, before judges and dignitaries, Peter and John were not intimidated. They boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Stone rejected by the builders that became the Cornerstone, and the only Name by which the world can be saved (Acts 4:11-12).
This dramatic transformation can be explained only by the reality of the resurrection. We need to see and be the same kind of resurrection-witnesses today. The world is secretly watching us Christians to see whether we will walk like we talk. It doesn't believe we really believe. We must change and boldly proclaim the risen Christ. Then the world must take notice and begin to entertain the thought that Jesus' resurrection is real and the most important event in world history.
Prayer: Jesus, may I burn with a desire to tell people about You and Your resurrection.
Promise: They "took so many fish they could not haul the net in. Then the disciple Jesus loved cried out to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' " —Jn 21:6-7
Praise: Alleluia! Praise the Risen Jesus, Who calls us each by name!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Risen Life, or our audio tapes AV 4A-1, AV 4A-3, AV 4B-1, AV 4B-3 or video V-4A, V-4B.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 16, 2006
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