Why do people believe it?

Not because it can be proved. Christians believe because of what the first followers said they saw, and because people still meet Jesus in the story today.

The first Christians said they had seen Jesus alive after he died. They kept saying it when it cost them their families, their work, and for some, their lives. About twenty years later, Paul wrote down a list of the people who saw him.

Faith usually starts the way it did then. Someone hears the story and is invited to look for themselves. When Philip told his friend Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael doubted. Philip did not argue with him. He said, “Come and see.”

You can do the same here. Read this Sunday’s story, try praying for four minutes, or go and listen at a church. Nobody will ask what you believe.

Where it is in the Bible

• John 1:45–46 Nathanael doubts, and Philip says “Come and see.”

  Read John 1:45–46

  ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

  World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

• John 20:24–29 Thomas will not believe until he sees for himself, and Jesus comes back for him.

  Read John 20:24–29

  ²⁴ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” ²⁶ After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”

  World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

• 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 Paul lists the people who saw Jesus alive.

  Read 1 Corinthians 15:3–8

  ³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

  World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →