TEACHING

 
The Biblical Edge


Especially during the early voyages of Christopher Columbus, he was

utterly convinced he’d found, not a New World, but Asia. Specifically,

India. The islands he explored he assumed were all just off the east coast of India. And the indigenous peoples he encountered he named “Indians.”


He’d sold the plan for these voyages to King Ferdinand and Queen

Isabella (of Spain) maintaining he would find a new route to India, and

fabulous riches….especially gold. When he reached what we know as the Caribbean, he believed he’d come to India. But he had a problem. As his voyages continued, he kept finding islands….not mainland Asia.


Still, as he sailed around and explored Cuba….he concluded this must be, NOT an island, but a peninsula of India. As his mapping experts and the indigenous peoples he encountered continued telling him this was an island….he refused to believe it. So much so, eventually he forced all his people to sign AN OATH, swearing on pain of DEATH, that each believed Cuba to be part of mainland India (Found in Columbus The Four Voyages, by Laurence Bergreen, [New York: Viking, 2011], 228).


Interestingly, the belief in Jesus’ Messiahship passed on by the apostles was a belief entirely contrary to all they’d been taught to expect. They thought Messiah would be a conquering general, not a crucified sacrifice risen from the dead. But….facts changed their minds:


“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16).


The truth wholly defies expectations and is far from a clever “tale.”


It’s good to know, huh?

Jer.

 

Sermons 

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2012

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Jerry Myatt - Senior Pastor

January 20, 2012