Articles
20/20 VISION FOR THE NEW YEAR!
To See Clearly, We Must Believe Jesus Lives
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples He would rise from the dead on the third day, but it didn’t
sink in. So when the women reported to the apostles He was indeed alive, they refused to believe
it (Luke 24:11). Until they were convinced otherwise, their mood was one of sorrow, fear, and
dashed hopes (Mark 16:10; Luke 24:13-21; John 20:11-15).
On first appearing to them, Jesus greeted them with these words: “Peace be with you”
(John 20:19).
“And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side.
The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).
From grief to joy (Matt. 28:8; Lk. 24:41, 52-53). Jesus told them the night before He died,
“You will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. ...I will see you again, and your heart will
rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (Jn. 16:20, 22). So, what made the
difference? Faith in a living Lord!
As one of the apostles who did not believe until he saw his risen Lord, Peter would later
write to Gentile believers, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not
see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1
Peter 1:8; see Jn. 20:29).
Paul wrote to the Ephesians that he was praying “that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the
glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward
us who believe” (Eph. 1:18-19). This is not merely lofty eloquence. As one who had himself
once lacked this enlightenment, Paul knew how valuable such spiritual insight could be, and
that’s why he prayed so earnestly for the enlightenment of the Ephesian Christians. Wouldn’t we
all benefit from this enhancement of our spiritual sight every bit as much?
Believing without having seen Christ in the flesh, “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:1- 3),
and having the eyes of our heart enlightened to know God’s surpassing power toward us —all
this and more add clarity to the 20/20 spiritual vision we so need.
David Gibson, Commerce, TX , via Gospel Advocate, January 2020
