Devotionals

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Can a miracle help win sceptics?:

The answer is ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ depending on what type of sceptic one is dealing with. There are basically three types of sceptics:
i) Malicious,
ii) Judicious, and
iii) Capricious.

Part 1: Malicious sceptics

This group can be described as “pathologically Christophobic”. Even at the face of evidence, a malicious sceptic would rather fudge than budge. They hate to concede to a competing camp. They are prejudiced and will do anything to eliminate or compromise the evidence. They have made up their mind and are willing to pay the price. They are avowed diehards, stuck in denial. They are self-deceived; sympathisers with their cause and loyal to their gratifications.

At the inauguration of the Church, this group was represented by the Pharisees who hated Jesus and His mission that they wouldn’t concede a ground regardless of what happened. They hated Him so much that they flouted the very law they were championing (bearing false witness) just to have Him fixed.

There are many examples where a miracle happened but the malicious sceptics remained adamant. For instance, consider their agitation when Lazarus was raised from the dead:

“Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him...”—John 11:45-48 (KJV).

Notice that the same miracle that made many people believe in Christ made others scheme to kill Him. Apart from scheming to kill Jesus, they also wanted to kill Lazarus himself in a bid to eliminate the evidence. Note also that they conceded to the fact that Jesus indeed did many miracles.

“But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus”—John 12:10-11 (KJV).

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This article is an excerpt from the book: "Fundamentals of Balanced Christianity”.
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