Superbook

Lesson:

You are witnesses of all these things.

Extras

• Character Profiles

  • Jesus

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    Jesus

    

    Jesus is revealed in the Bible as the Son of God. He was first given this title by Gabriel, who spoke to Mary, saying: “So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). After Jesus was baptized by John, God said, “This is my dearly beloved Son, who brings me great joy." As the Son of God, Jesus was all powerful on earth. He healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on water, calmed the sea, and had the authority to forgive sins.

    • Bible References

      • John 3:16
      • Luke 1:35
      • Matthew 3:16-17
      • Genesis 1:1
      • Revelation 19:13
      • John 1:1-5
      • John 14:9
      • Mark 2:5-12
      • John 3:16
      • John 14:6
      • John 14:3
      • Acts 1:11
      • Revelation 19:13

  • Cleopas

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    Cleopas

    

    Cleopas and his traveling companion are surprised to see a stranger walking and talking with them as they travel back to Emmaus. They beg Him to stay with them that night; there was just something about Him! As they broke bread, suddenly their eyes were opened... it was Jesus! Cleopas now knows why his heart burned within Him as the man explained Scriptures.

    • Bible References

      • Luke 24:15
      • Luke 24:1-12
      • Luke 24:13-16
      • Luke 24:19-24
      • Luke 24:25-34
      • Luke 24:35-36

  • Thomas

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    Thomas

    

    Soon after Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to the disciples. One of the disciples, Thomas, was not present and refused to believe that Jesus had appeared to the eleven other apostles, until he could see and feel the wounds received by Jesus on the cross.

    • Bible References

      • John 20:25
      • John 20:24
      • John 20:25
      • John 20:26
      • John 20:27
      • John 20:28
      • John 20:29

  • Mary Magdalene

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    Mary Magdalene

    

    After Jesus cast out seven demons from Mary, she became His follower. She was the first to see the risen Christ, and Jesus sent her to tell the others she had witnessed His resurrection.

    • Bible References

      • Galatians 5:6
      • Mark 16:9
      • Mark 15:40
      • Luke 8:2
      • John 20:11-18

  • John (Young)

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    John (Young)

    

    Before Jesus called him to be a disciple, he was a fisherman (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20). John’s relationship with Jesus was so close that he was called “the disciple Jesus loved.” John wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation.

    • Bible References

      • John 13:34-35
      • Matthew 4:18-22
      • Mark 1:16-20
      • Mark 5:37
      • Luke 9:28-29
      • Mark 3:17
      • John 19:26-27
      • John 20:31
      • Revelation 1:9-11

• Adventure Guide

  • 

    Gizmo's Bible Adventures - Your New Journey with God

  • 

    Doubting Thomas - Family Discussion Guide

• Videos

  Centurion Paid To Lie

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    Centurion Paid To Lie

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    The Road to Emmaus

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    Jesus Appears to His Disciples

  • 

    Thomas Doubts

  • 

    Thomas Sees and Believes

  • 

    Doubting Thomas - The Salvation Poem

• Q & A

  • How can I be a witness for Jesus like the disciples in the Bible?

    A witness is someone who sees something happen. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples that they would be His witnesses to others of all that they had seen and heard Him do. They would also tell of all He had done to fulfill the Scriptures.
    
    This was a very important task and one they couldn’t do alone. He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would empower them to witness and to spread the Gospel. (Luke:24:44-49). Right before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts:1:8).
    
    When Jesus first called His disciples, He said He would show them how to fish for people. (Matthew:4:19). They could not have known that they would be His witnesses all over the world telling people all they had seen and heard.
    
    So, how can we witness about Jesus when we haven’t physically seen Him? We can tell others what we have seen Him do in our lives. We can tell them how He has filled us with His Spirit and how He has changed us. We can tell how He has forgiven us, saved us, and filled us with His love and peace. We can share how we have a new heart and we are set free from sin to serve Him. This is all that Jesus asks us to do. We may not have seen Him with our eyes, but we know He lives in our hearts.
    
    Sometimes, people will believe us; sometimes they will not. Our part is only to be a faithful witness. We cannot force anyone to believe. The Holy Spirit will take it from there. As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:7, we plant seeds and water; only God can make the seed grow. The seeds represent God’s Word which we plant in someone’s heart as we witness.
    
    Mary Magdalene witnessed about what she had seen and heard at the tomb, but the disciples didn’t believe her! Later, Cleopas and his companion told the disciples about their experience on the road to Emmaus, but the disciples didn’t believe their Words. Jesus later rebuked His disciples for being stubborn and refusing to believe those who witnessed to them that He was alive! (Mark:16:11-14).
    These same disciples witnessed to Thomas that Jesus was alive; they had seen Him! Thomas refused to believe until He saw Jesus with his own eyes and touched His wounds. Jesus later appeared to Him and told Him to not be faithless any longer. (John:20:24-29).
    
    It is hard to be rejected when we witness about Jesus and share our experience with Him. But, we cannot be discouraged. The disciples were rejected and even Jesus, too! “Then He said to the disciples, "Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting Me. And anyone who rejects You is rejecting Me. And anyone who rejects Me is rejecting God, who sent Me." (Luke:10:16).
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Luke 24:47

  • How does God want me to live for Him when I don't actually see Him?

    Thomas was having trouble making sense of all he had heard about Jesus. Some of the women said they saw Jesus alive and now the disciples were claiming they saw Him too! Thomas would not believe unless He personally saw Jesus with his own eyes and touched His wounds with his own hands. (John:20:24-29).
    
    Little did Thomas know that Jesus would give Him what He asked for. “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. (John:20:26-28). Thomas was stunned. It was true; Jesus was really alive!
    
    Then, in John 20:29, Jesus said something that is true for us, especially today. “You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me.”
    
    It is much easier to believe in things we can see, right? As the saying goes, “seeing is believing.” But, Jesus doesn’t want us to see to believe. He calls us to believe without seeing. This is called living by faith. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we live by believing and not by seeing.” Other translations say: “For we walk by faith and not by sight.” Jesus knows it is hard to believe in something without seeing it; yet that is what we are called to do. In fact, it is impossible to please God without faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” That’s a tough ask, isn’t it? To seek after someone who is invisible; is that even possible?
    
    We read in Hebrews 11:27 about Moses who did exactly that. “It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” Moses focused on God who he couldn’t see! And, that is what we must do to live by faith. When we do, Jesus will bless us! Blessed are those who don't see, but still believe! Hebrews 11:1 says: “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • John 20:24-29
    • John 20:26-28
    • John 20:29
    • 2 Corinthians 5:7
    • Hebrews 11:6
    • Hebrews 11:27
    • Hebrews 11:1

  • Will God actually reveal more about Himself to me while I am in the world?

    Jesus had risen from the dead and the tomb was empty. As Mary Magdalene wept, a man appeared and spoke with her. She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). (John:20: 1-16). Upon hearing Jesus’ voice calling her name, Mary recognized Him. At the perfect time, Jesus will reveal Himself to us in different situations and times in our lives. Jesus does not want to remain hidden or disguised, He wants everyone to know Him and to abide with Him. He wants us to know that He is with us at all times; in times of sorrow and in times of joy. God said in Jeremiah 29:13: “If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.”
    
    Jesus is with us always as He told His disciples when He sent them out before He returned to heaven. (Matthew:28:20). When we seek Him, He will be found.
    
    When Jesus appeared and walked with Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus, they didn’t recognize Him. They could not believe this stranger had heard nothing about Jesus! Then as He talked with them and ate with them, their eyes were opened to recognize Him. “As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke:24:30-32). Jesus revealed Himself to these men and turned their sadness and sorrow into joy.
    
    That same evening, in John 20:19-20, Jesus revealed Himself to His other disciples. “That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” He said. As He spoke, He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!”
    
    Jesus appeared and gave them peace in the midst of the questions, doubts, uncertainty and fear they were experiencing, He spoke peace to them. He revealed His wounds to them. When Jesus appears to us, He will reveal more of Himself; things we never knew or experienced with Him before. The more time we seek Him and abide with Him in all kinds of circumstances, the more He will reveal Himself to us!
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • John 20:1-16
    • Jeremiah 29:13
    • Matthew 28:20
    • Luke 24:30-32
    • John 20:19-20

  • Does Jesus really want to know me and spend time with me?

    It is hard to truly understand how much Jesus desires to abide or dwell with us. He doesn’t want to be far off; but instead, touchable and accessible. Jesus and the angel at the tomb told Mary Magdalene and the other women to have the disciples meet with Him in Galilee. Yes, the same disciples who fell asleep in the garden when He asked for their support and who later abandoned Him when He was arrested. Jesus knew all of this would happen, but still called them friends and brothers. Matthew 28:10 says, “Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”
    
    Jesus then appeared to Cleopas and his companion as they walked and talked along the road to Emmaus. (Luke:24:13-16). Soon after speaking with Cleopas, Jesus appeared to the other disciples and ate with them. (Luke:24:35-43).
    
    Later, the disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee, distraught and confused with all that had happened. Jesus appeared on the shore and called to them. When they arrived, they found He had prepared breakfast for them. This was third time after His resurrection that He appeared to them. (John:21:1-14). The disciples did not have to search to find Jesus… He found them!
    
    Revelation 3:20 says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” This is what Jesus does every moment of every day. He comes and gently knocks and asks to spend time with us in every part of our lives. The question is, will we hear Him and open the door? Jesus wants us to have the intimate relationship that He shares with His Father, God. Jesus even prayed for our relationship with Him and our Heavenly Father. In John 17:21, Jesus says, “I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.”
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Matthew 28:10
    • Luke 24:35-43
    • John 21:1-14
    • Revelation 3:20
    • John 17:21

  • Can we fully understand the extent of God's glory and power?

    The angel of the Lord came from heaven, rolled the stone away from the entrance to Jesus’ tomb and then sat on top of it. Oh, and don’t forget the earthquake that accompanied this feat. It was no coincidence, just as it wasn’t when Jesus died on the cross and the earth and rocks split apart. Or, when He sent an angel to release Paul and Silas from prison as they sang praised to Him. Acts 16:26 says, "Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” God has all authority and power in heaven and earth." (Matthew:28:18).
    
    Now, back to the tomb. Matthew 28:2 says, “Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying.” This display of power and glory from an angel of God, not God in person, was enough to cause the brave Roman soldiers to be paralyzed with fear and faint!
    
    In the Old Testament, when Solomon was dedicating the Temple, God’s glory and presence came down. “When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple." (1 Kings:8:10-11). The priests couldn’t move!
    
    During Jesus’ ministry, He took three of His disciples to a mountain where He was transformed. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as light. Then, God’s voice was heard from a cloud that overshadowed them. The disciples fell face down on the ground, terrified by what they heard and saw. (Matthew:17:1-8).
    
    When the mob came to the garden to arrest Jesus, they told Him they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. “I am He,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I am He,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!” (John:18:5-6). Think of that, just at the sound of Jesus’ voice, the men collapsed.
    
    When Jesus died on the cross. The veil in the Temple was torn in two. The earth shook and rocks split apart. The tombs of godly men and women opened, and they began to walk around, fully alive again. The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Matthew:27:50-54)
    
    These are just a few examples of God’s awesome glory and power in the Bible. There are countless more to read and discover. Psalm 147:5 says, “How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” This is our God whom we serve. There is nothing that can stand in His presence; no one compares to Him!
    
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Acts 16:26
    • Matthew 28:18
    • Matthew 28:2
    • 1 Kings 8:10-11
    • Matthew 17:1-8
    • John 18:5-6
    • Matthew 27:50-54
    • Psalms 147:5