There is an account in The Gospel of John concerning the disciple named Thomas. Other disciples had seen the risen Lord, but Thomas said,"Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my fingers in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in the wound in his side, I will not believe." It was eight days later when Jesus approached Thomas. "Put your fingers here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas then fell to his knees exclaiming, "my Lord and my God". Jesus said to Thomas and the disciples "Because you have seen, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

   How like Thomas, many people are; unwilling to put their trust in God without a specific sign from God that He is real and trustworthy and able and willing and loving enough to care for and provide for and protect each one of us.

   Most people are willing to accept that there is a God, who God is, they do not know. They haven't as yet experienced the love and power of God in their lives; Mainly because they haven't sought God or they have been looking in the wrong places or desire a god of their own creation.

   Jesus said,"If you have seen me, you have seen the Father, for I and the Father are one. I am in the Father and the Father is in me."

   There is no disputing that Jesus of Nazereth was a factual person, who for three years at the age of 30 or so, travelled around Israel with a group of followers. there are more accounts of this person handed down than of Julius Ceasar, of Archimedes, or of most of the famous people of the ages prior to 300 AD. Apart from the new testament accounts of Jesus, there are several other accounts with references to Jesus, A jewish man who ran afoul of the authorities and was condemned to death for blasphemy.

   So who was this Jesus of Nazereth? The old testament contains many prophesies describing events in the life of the anointed one of God, the Christ. Jesus' life, and actions fulfilled all of these prophesies exactly. For one to fake all or even most of these prophesies is impossible. He would have to be born in Bethlehem, a small town, into the right family, the eldest child, have a cousin who would become known as the baptizer, live in Nazereth, be accused of blasphemy, have himself arrested on the eve of the passover to avoid being stoned instead of crucified, have himself delivered to the Roman authorities for sentencing, be hung next to a thief, die quickly enough so as to not have his legs broken, have a rich man take sympathy on him and have him burried in his tomb. All these prophesies, no man could have arranged the fulfillment of, yet Jesus fulfilled these and many others, exactly. As Jesus said, " All these things have been told to you in advance so that you may believe."

   With all the evidence from the Old Testament in the form of prophesy which has come to pass with a 100% acuracy, not only in the revealing of the Messiah, but regarding nations, cities, rulers, and events; one cannot conclude other than divine intervention in the foretelling of the history of Israel and the Jewish people. The bible accounts have proven to be so accurate that many historians and archeologists have come to depend on the bible in much of their work.

   The actions of the disciples who followed Jesus, testify to His being the Messiah. That Jesus did rise again from death is the only reasonable explaination to the disciples faith in Christ. They saw Jesus die on the cross. They were in fear for their own lives, after Jesus death. For the 12 of them , plus about 50 others, to concoct a story of Christ's resurrection, and then testify as to their faith in the face of certain persecution and death, as Jesus had predicted; is just too unlikely to be the case. The boldness of the followers of Christ, testifies that Jesus is who He said He was, the Son of God, the Messiah, God incarnate, God in human form. Because of their accounts and exploits; we have all reason to believe.

   Jesus said to the disciples,"When I ascend into heaven, I will not leave you helpless. I and the Father will send you the 'Holy Spirit'. And He will be with you and help you and teach you all things." Knowing that Jesus never told a lie, this also must be true; that God, as Holy Spirit will come and live in the hearts and minds and will of all those who would profess the name of Jesus.

   Jesus said,"Ask and it shall be given to you." Jesus prayed to the Father, "sanctify them (His followers) in the truth, Thy Word is truth". If you are a non-believer or perhaps a little dubious towards Christianity, here's what I ask you to do. No tricks, no strongarm tactics, no manipulation; just you, God, and His Word. Take a bible, open it to one of the Gospels; either Mathew, Mark, Luke, or John, and read several verses each day. Before each session, pray, "God, if your real, reveal yourself to me in the words I am reading". "Show Yourself to me as I carry out my daily life."

"Overcome my unbelief."

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