Inspire 21-Day Devotional: Illuminating God's WordSample

WEEK 2, DAY 5: CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?

The Bible is Authentic

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, and the Gospel writers are careful to present the facts surrounding that momentous event. However, when we examine the account in Mark 16:9, we see something that speaks volumes about the authenticity of the Bible. Mark records that the first person to witness the risen Christ was Mary Magdalene, a woman who had been delivered from seven demons. This detail may seem ordinary to us today, but it is anything but ordinary in the context of first-century Jewish society.

In the cultural climate of the time, women had little social standing, and their testimony was not considered reliable in legal matters. A woman's testimony was not even admissible in court. So, why does Mark highlight Mary Magdalene as the first witness to the resurrection? The answer lies in the fact that the Gospels, including Mark’s, do not attempt to whitewash the story to make it more palatable or culturally acceptable. If the Gospel writers had been fabricating a story to gain credibility, they would have chosen a male witness of high social standing—perhaps a respected religious leader or one of the apostles.

Furthermore, by choosing Mary Magdalene, Mark also highlights the profound grace of Jesus. Mary was not just any woman; she had been delivered from demonic oppression, and the life of a prostitute, marked by darkness and shame. Yet, it was to her that Jesus first appeared in His glorified state. This is a reminder that the Gospel is not about human worthiness but about God's grace. Jesus shows Himself first to the one society would least expect—proclaiming that His message is for the broken, the outcast, and the humble.

The Bible is full of flawed and fallen heroes and doesn't hide the ugly parts of the story. In a world where appearances often take precedence over truth, the Bible stands as a testament to the unwavering reality of the events it records. The authenticity of the resurrection story is evident in its unvarnished portrayal of the facts, including the surprising choice of Mary Magdalene as the first witness. The Gospel writers did not invent the story to please their audience; they just faithfully told what happened. This is one more reason we can trust the Bible as God's true and reliable Word.

May we, like Mary, be willing to bear witness to the risen Christ, embracing both the grace and the authenticity He offers.

Artifact: Tiffany Stained Glass Window titled Easter Sunday

The stained-glass window titled Easter Morning depicts Jesus on the morning of the resurrection. Clothed in a white robe and with his head illuminated by a halo, he is looking toward a woman—likely Mary—on the left panel. The three crosses of Calvary can be seen in the background high up on the right panel. The fact that women first witnessed Jesus’ resurrection is a remarkable feature of all four Gospel accounts, since a woman’s legal testimony was not highly regarded in the 1st century Greco-Roman world. That the Gospel writers do not shy away from including this fact in their accounts all the more supports their validity and the importance of eyewitness accounts recorded in the Scriptures—whether it be from women or men. Easter Morning was created in 1909 by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Q1. What are the main themes or ideas of the Scripture passage?

Q2. What does this devotional tell me about who God is?

Q3. How does this devotional challenge or encourage me?

Q4. What specific action can I take to live out this teaching?

Q5. Who should I share this with for encouragement or accountability?