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Bible Studies for Life Lesson for Oct. 17: What’s So Different About Jesus?
Catherine Painter, Raleigh speaker, author
September 30, 2010
3 MIN READ TIME

Bible Studies for Life Lesson for Oct. 17: What’s So Different About Jesus?

Bible Studies for Life Lesson for Oct. 17: What’s So Different About Jesus?
Catherine Painter, Raleigh speaker, author
September 30, 2010

Focal Passages: John
6:66-69; 9:17, 24-25, 31-33, 35-38; 20:27-29

I knocked, expecting my
friend Sandra to open the door. Instead, Lucy, the baby sitter, invited me in
and explained that Sandra was away for an hour.

I was traveling home from a
Billy Graham School of Evangelism, and stopped by for a visit.
I wondered, “Is this a
divine appointment?”

With Sandra away and the
baby asleep, the setting was perfect to share my faith with Lucy, a foreign
exchange student.

Describing my week’s experiences led to
conversation about Christ.

“This is strange,” she said.
“I’ve been here a year, and no one has mentioned Jesus to me.
This week, Sandra’s neighbor
and you have spoken to me about Him. This isn’t coincidental.”_ÑŒ

Her observation indicated an
openness to receive Christ, but as I shared how she could experience salvation,
she said, “I believe there is good in all religions.”

“So do I,” I said.

“May I explain what
distinguishes Jesus from all other religious leaders?”

“Yes, please do,” she said.

“To begin with, Jesus is the
only religious leader who rose from the dead. Mohammed, Buddha, and Confucius
are all in graves.

“Jesus alone died to pay the
penalty for the sins of all who believe and accept His death on the cross as
payment for their sins.

“Other religions teach
salvation by good works, commanding their followers to ‘go and do.’

“Christ calls His followers
to ‘come and be.’”

Lucy insisted, “I love His
teachings and believe His miracles, but I have trouble believing the
resurrection.”
I suggested she seek
Christian counseling to resolve her doubt.
During the following weeks,
I mailed materials to her with evidences of the resurrection. When we talked by
phone, I would ask, “Have you prayed to receive Christ?”
Her answer remained: “I need
more time.”

Writing this commentary, I
think of Lucy and how Christ pursued her, knocking on the door of her heart.

Would she open the door to
receive Him, or would she “go away?” (Jn. 6:67.)

Months later, she called to
say she had invited Christ into her life.

“How do you know He’s
there?” I teased.

“I spent time with Him this
morning,” she said.
If you know someone who
needs to know Christ’s love and forgiveness, please go to that person.

Because if not you, who?

If not now, when?

Eternity’s clock is ticking.