“He is not here. He is risen” (Luke 24:6).

What happened to the twelve disciples of Jesus after the resurrection?

In AD 44, King Herod ordered that James the Greater be thrust through with a sword. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred.

And so the bloodbath began.

• Luke was hung by the neck from an olive tree in Greece.
• Doubting Thomas was pierced with a pine spear, tortured with red-hot plates, and burned alive in India.
• In AD 54, the proconsul of Hierapolis had Philip tortured and crucified because his wife converted to Christianity while listening to Philip preach. Philip continued to preach while on the cross.
• Matthew was stabbed in the back in Ethiopia.
• Bartholomew was flogged to death in Armenia.
• James the Just was thrown off the southeast pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem. After surviving the one-hundred-foot fall, he was clubbed to death by a mob.
• Simon the Zealot was crucified by a governor of Syrian in AD 74.
• Judas Thaddeus was beaten to death with sticks in Mesopotamia.
• Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot, was stoned to death and then beheaded.
• And Peter was crucified upside down at his own request. J
• John the Beloved is the only disciple to die of natural causes, but that’s only because he survived his own execution. When a cauldron of boiling oil could not kill John, Emperor Diocletian exiled him to the island of Patmos, where he lived until his death in AD 95.

Every single one died for their faith in the crucified and the risen Christ.

Compare that to what happened at Watergate. Charles Colson writes:

I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Everyone was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured it if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world – and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

I love this verse! This is one of my absolute favorites in the Bible. I wouldn’t be surprised if it weren’t one of your favorites.

But, this is also one of the verses that are most taken out of context.

The truth contained in this passage has nothing to do with:

• Sports and winning
• Lifting heavier weights
• Running faster
• Accomplishing personal dreams
• Overcoming low self-esteem

Look at the context: “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12).

You know what Paul is talking about? He’s talking about being content and joyful because of all that Christ has done, regardless of the circumstances he is facing. Paul is talking about how to live the life of faith with joy even in the midst of adversity and hardship. This has to do living faithfully and joyfully in the midst of suffering and persecution.

Do you know where Paul wrote Philippians? He wrote Philippians while in Prison in Rome.

That’s the context.

I love this verse. It’s one of my favorites. I pray that I too can live a life of joy and faith in all circumstances.

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:15-17).

It is absolutely true that Jesus ate with tax collectors. It is absolutely true that prostitutes and men and women of questionable sexual practice found themselves in the company of Jesus.

The tax collectors and sinners seem comfortable around Jesus.

It is absolutely true that tax collectors and sinners were loved by Jesus.

However, Jesus did not eat with tax collectors and sinners because he wanted to be inclusive, tolerant, and accepting. Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners to call them to repentance. If we miss that we miss the whole point of the cross.

Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. That’s why Jesus ate with sinners. That’s why you and I have hope.

If you are a sinner, Jesus is great news!