Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.
The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.
The word of assurance given to Moses at Sinai echoes through eternity on the lips of the Savior, untroubling troubled souls with the good news that there is one who walks the paths of life with you, and soon he’s coming to bring you to himself.

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Heaven is as near as the Word proclaimed from the mouth of the preacher into the ear and heart of the sinner. It is as near as the bread and wine in your mouth. For, you see, Word and sacrament are where Jesus is.
His clarity and fearlessness made him a favorite interview subject for the press in both great and small questions.
We are dangerously good at focusing on our exciting, or boring, walk of faith.
While I was still an over-eager seminarian the professor warned me, “Mr. Riley, this is exciting stuff.
God graciously bursts our foolish plots by coming our way, into our very flesh, and being God with us.
In Christ, the Word become flesh, this is a concrete, real fact. It is the bedrock foundation of the Gospel.
History was one of dad’s favorite subjects and he shared his knowledge with infectious enthusiasm.
For since it was not enough that the Lord of heaven and earth hung on our every word, the Word came down from heaven and hung upon the cross.
God’s justification of us does not happen secretly in our spirits. God justifies you and me in His absolving Word
Good preaching does something for you. It delivers to you a Good Samaritan.
Rather than presenting Christ’s words as a rule or a threat, Luther reveals it to be the promise of God.
But where love is necessary we pray for our enemies and bless them in the hope that God will repent and convert them to the Gospel.