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Evidence: Not a Conspiracy

Imagine yourself as a disciple of Jesus, who believed He was sent from God as the long-awaited Messiah. Imagine being part of the throng who followed Him, and imagine listening to Him teach and explain the scriptures. (Read John 21:17-19)

Now imagine Him being captured, convicted and crucified. All you hoped for is dashed; everything you dreamed of is crushed.

What would you do? How do you think you would react?

One thing I know I would not do is get together with other followers, now without the leader, and make up stories in order to perpetuate a lie. For the rest of my life.

Yet that is what those who hold a conspiracy theory believe. They believe that there was no resurrection. Therefore, the disciples, who were fishermen and peasants with a tax collector thrown in, concocted irrational tales in order to continue a mission they knew was fabricated, outsmarting everyone in the process and changing the course of history.

I hope this sounds as absurd to you as it does to me. First of all, a conspiracy is typically propagated to explain (usually in elaborate fashion) a specific event in order to gain more power over others. There is a definite benefit for those involved; there is always some kind of gain.

Do the disciples fit this profile? Did they end up wealthy and renowned, enjoying the rewards of a well-constructed lie?

According to our scripture reading, to continue in faith and spread the Good News meant to face certain peril and death. This was true for Peter, who was crucified and martyred during Nero’s reign. And tradition states that Andrew was crucified in Greece after traveling extensively preaching the Gospel (even through the area now called the Soviet Union); Philip was murdered in Asia Minor, James was first stoned and then clubbed to death, while Matthew was reportedly martyred in Ethiopia. All but John, who recorded Revelation as an aged and exiled man, were put to death because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Each believed so strongly, no threat of torture or imminent death could convince them otherwise. The Apostles, timid and afraid following Jesus’ capture, became courageous proclaimers of the Truth. And we know why: they had seen the Risen Lord. (Read Luke 24:36-40)

These men were not conspirators but faithful followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Name of Christ to the ends of the earth. God continues to call us today to faithfully follow Him wherever and to whomever He wills.

Let us pray that we will heed His call.

Heavenly Father, we admire those who have gone before us and followed Your call to the ends of the earth, not as conspirators but as Christ-followers, leaving all behind in obedience to You. We know that You desire none to perish, but all to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4). We pray that we follow you faithfully as well; and pray that we will fulfill Your purpose and call on our lives as we share the Good News wherever we are sent.

In Jesus name, amen.