One of the first things one is taught when taking flying lessons is not to believe what they see or feel. It has been proven over and again that our senses do not always tell us the truth. Pilots are taught to trust their instruments which are not subject to human experience. Sometimes when flying level one feels like one is climbing and so we push in the yoke thinking to fly level but we are really descending.
Thus it is with people, it is not wise to trust or make important decisions on the testimony of just one person no matter how trustworthy. They can honestly be wrong. In I Corinthians 15 Paul wrote regarding Jesus’ resurrection, “He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time.” Five hundred is an excellent sample size for researchers. Then Peter wrote, “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” Please note the “we” not “I.”
We have a tendency to believe something on a very small amount of data or just because something, we think, happened to us. The average person dreams three to seven dreams a night. That is between 1500 and 2500 dreams a year. Yet, I know someone who claims to believe his dreams tell his future because a few years ago something he dreamed came to be. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
If we are to know something, really know, we have to have adequate data. Regarding the resurrection of our Lord, the data and sample size are more than enough. HE LIVES.
Written by Roger Bothwell on July 15, 2016
PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org