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Presented Alive by Many Proofs (Acts 1:1-8)
16 Plays4 days ago
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is supported “by many proofs” according to Acts 1:3. The writer of the book of Acts was a medical doctor and missionary named Luke. He also wrote the Gospel of Luke. It is interesting how he dedicated both works to someone named, Theophilus.
Listen to what this same author noted was his motivation for writing the Gospel record, “1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”
Those in the medical field know how important good research is to obtaining certainty. Luke put his research skills to use in investigating the credibility of the bodily resurrection of Christ and wrote at least seven proofs that assure us that Jesus indeed has been raised from the dead.
Confirmation of Multiple Written Accounts, 1:1
Affirmation of Various Reliable Eyewitnesses, 1:2-3
Compilation of Undeniable, Verifiable Evidence, 1:3
Continuation over an Extended Period of Time, 1:3
Corroboration of Simultaneous Group Sightings, 1:4-7
Realization of Relevant Prophetic Predictions, 1:4-7
Validation of Globally Convinced Disciples, 1:8
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Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to First Baptist Church
00:00:08
Speaker
Welcome to Growing in Grace with Pastor Victor Morrison. This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas. We are praying that God will bless you as you listen to this message.
00:00:22
Speaker
If you would like additional information on worship times and ministries at FBC Columbus, you can find out more at our website, fbccolumbustx.org. And now, take your copy of God's timeless Word as Pastor Victor gives today's message.
Celebrating Resurrection Day
00:00:43
Speaker
Welcome to Growing in Grace. Hey, today is Resurrection Day. Happy Easter. I hope that you are focused on the Lord. What a celebration that we have as believers in Christ. We do not serve a dead Savior.
00:00:58
Speaker
We serve a living Savior who's risen from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is actually supported by many proofs, according to what we're going to read in a moment in Acts 1, verse 3.
00:01:13
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The writer of the book of Acts was a medical doctor and a missionary named Luke. He also wrote the Gospel of Luke. It is interesting how he dedicated both works to someone named Theophilus.
00:01:28
Speaker
So there was a certain person. And that man, Theophilus, said, how do I know for certain that all of this is really true, that Jesus really did rise from the dead?
00:01:39
Speaker
You see, God is not asking you or me or any of us to take a blind leap of faith into the dark in order to trust in Christ. No, there's actually a lot of evidence that he's provided so that we can say, well, based on the evidence, this makes perfect sense for me to put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
00:02:04
Speaker
As a matter of fact, listen to what this same author, Luke, noted was his motivation when he was writing the gospel record, the gospel of Luke.
Luke's Evidence for Resurrection
00:02:15
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He opens that gospel account up with these words, "...inasmuch as many..." have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past,
00:02:44
Speaker
to write an orderly account for You know how important good research order to obtain certainty. certainty concerning the things that you have been taught you know those in the medical field like luke they know how important good research is in order to obtain certainty Well, Luke put his research skills to good use in investigating the credibility of the bodily resurrection of Christ. And he wrote at least seven proofs that assure us that Jesus indeed
00:03:21
Speaker
has been raised from the dead. So let's examine the evidence together and see what Luke may have meant by many proofs. In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up.
00:03:41
Speaker
After he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
00:04:01
Speaker
And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait forever. For the promise of the Father, which he said, you heard from me.
00:04:13
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For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days from now. So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
00:04:28
Speaker
He said to them, it's not for you to know times or seasons that the Father is fixed by his own authority, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.
00:04:50
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Let's see, what is it that Luke wrote and said, this is like one piece of evidence, this is another piece. And so let's go through there and see what we can collect as we go through these verses together.
00:05:05
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Well, let's begin where he began, with the confirmation of multiple written accounts. You know, in addition to what Luke is about to write in the book of Acts, we also have 24 chapters of evidence recorded in his work known as the Gospel of Luke, which he stated that he wrote to provide certainty in knowing the truth about Jesus Christ.
Gospel Accounts of Resurrection
00:05:30
Speaker
So based on Acts 1.1, we not only have one piece of evidence in Acts, but but a second document provided in Luke's gospel.
00:05:41
Speaker
Remember how accurate and analytical doctors are? Luke needed proof, didn't he? Well, of course, there are three other gospel accounts in the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, and John.
00:05:57
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We should also consider each of these as valid and pertinent, as well, since they too bear clear witness, not just to the death of Christ, but also to his resurrection as well.
00:06:10
Speaker
Now, we have a total of five written accounts that testify to the resurrection of Christ. If we count the four gospels plus the book of Acts, Of course, we would also be remiss not to include the writings of Peter, as well, since he too wrote in 1 and 2 Peter a witness to the reality of Christ after his crucifixion.
00:06:35
Speaker
Here's what Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1.16, for example. He said, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. then you could go to the book of Hebrews and count it as well.
00:06:48
Speaker
Because it not only discusses his death and his resurrection, but it also addresses where is Christ now? And what is he doing in heaven as the great high priest? That's all covered in Hebrews.
00:07:03
Speaker
So later in the book of Acts, Luke will record the transformation of a man who hated Christians and was sent to imprison them, but who had a personal encounter with the risen Lord and was transformed.
00:07:18
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After Jesus changed this man from the inside out, His name was changed from Saul to Paul, the Apostle Paul. He wrote several letters within the New Testament.
00:07:30
Speaker
So we should also include his writings about the resurrection as evidence as well. Do you see what I'm saying? The confirmation, not of one written scrap of paper you know that says, okay, I saw Jesus the other day.
00:07:46
Speaker
No, there are multiple written accounts when you put all of these together. But then why don't we consider also the next convincing proof that Luke adds to the written accounts, and that is the clarification that his record was from those who were actually eyewitnesses of his resurrection.
00:08:07
Speaker
So I would say the second proof is this, the affirmation of various reliable eyewitnesses. His chronicles in scripture were not based upon his own opinion,
00:08:21
Speaker
They were founded upon the testimonies of various eyewitnesses. And these eyewitnesses, i mean, these apostles, these men that Luke interviewed when he wrote his gospel, when he wrote the book of Acts, these men were not worthless fellows who were, let's say, drug addicts or chronic liars.
00:08:42
Speaker
No, these apostles were known for their truth, their love, their forgiveness, their purity, their service, their sacrifice. The 12, all of them, each of them were persecuted for their faith.
00:08:57
Speaker
Many of them, if not all of them, were actually martyred for their faith. They laid down their life because they were convinced that Jesus was alive and that Jesus worthy.
00:09:09
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Are you convinced that the Lord is alive? Are you convinced that he's worthy of your best efforts in life? Well, let's move back to Acts chapter one in verse three, because there's also this third piece of evidence where it's like a compilation of undeniable, verifiable evidence.
00:09:31
Speaker
What did he mean by that? Well, the word in Greek means by many criteria of certainty. You see, it was rare and was only used here to verify the historical reality of Christ's resurrection.
00:09:48
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So you won't find that word many proofs in any other location other than Acts chapter one, verse three. And what was it used about? It was used when referring to Christ's resurrection.
00:10:01
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So what is he trying to say? Well, I think we have to go back to Acts chapter one, verse one, where he talks about all that Jesus said began to do and teach.
00:10:13
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All that Jesus began to do and teach. See, those who read the four gospel accounts know what is meant by this statement about Christ's deeds.
00:10:25
Speaker
How would the father point to his son in a way that people would believe that he really was the son of God? Well, he worked mighty miracles through Jesus' hands.
00:10:39
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See, Jesus' life was far from ordinary. There are at least 34 miracles documented in the four gospels. Many of these were observed by more than just one person.
00:10:54
Speaker
Take, for example, his birth. Well, his birth was a miracle. He was born of a virgin. He opened blind eyes and healed the lame. He raised three people during his ministry from the dead and was able to heal leprosy.
00:11:09
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He also could calm storms at sea. He healed a rare blood disorder for one lady that had already tried going to many doctors. Luke made sure to note that.
00:11:21
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He fed 5,000 from one little boy's lunch. So many of you may be wondering to yourself, well, if God can do many miracles, then why doesn't he do some for me?
00:11:36
Speaker
Well, he doesn't perform miracles all of the time, lest humanity would demand that he constantly, from generation to generation, from one year, one month, one day to the next, prove his deity over and over and over again. if you're really God, then do this or do that.
00:11:57
Speaker
You see, rather than do that, the father knew in his wisdom, you know what, I'm gonna prove it through one person, one life, the life of my son.
00:12:08
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So it's not that he can't do miracles today. i think he is still doing miracles all around us. But the the the remainder of miracles that God does, I think they're all just like grace.
00:12:21
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It's not that he has to, it's that he wants to. So I'm thinking all of these undeniable, verifiable evidences, these proofs, what are they? Well, they're all those miracles. So it makes sense that God would do this incredible miracle of raising his perfect son who lived a sinless life from the dead.
00:12:44
Speaker
It just adds up. And then I thought about verse three.
Post-Resurrection Appearances
00:12:49
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There's something really significant in that verse that says that he proved his resurrection from the dead over a period not of one day, not two days or three 40 days.
00:13:02
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forty days 40 days, not just one night. Let me read it to you again. it says here, he presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
00:13:23
Speaker
This is all after his death on the cross. This is all after he was placed in the tomb. it was after the three days that he was in the tomb. When the father raised him from the dead, he rolled away the stone, not so Jesus could get out.
00:13:39
Speaker
He rolled away the stone so we could get in and realize there's no one in there anymore. What an incredible piece of evidence. All of these miracles that none of us can do.
00:13:53
Speaker
Only God could do these things. But all of that is substantiating the fact that he is the son of God. Think about this also. Many of the sightings of people who saw Jesus after he was raised from the dead, they were not individual sightings.
00:14:13
Speaker
They were group sightings. And sometimes they were simultaneous sightings. So they're in a group where there's two, three, maybe 10, maybe 11 that are gathered together. And at that time, they all see him at the same time.
00:14:31
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You see, Luke was not claiming that he was the only one who had actually seen Jesus alive after he was raised from the dead? No, as a matter of fact, Luke most likely didn't see the risen Lord, risen from the dead.
00:14:47
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He interviewed so many who saw Jesus alive, and he recorded exactly what they saw and exactly where they saw him. I wonder if you've ever considered this. In a US courtroom, how many eyewitnesses are necessary to corroborate something as fact, something truly happened?
00:15:10
Speaker
Well, you have to have the corroboration of two, right? At least two eyewitnesses. Guess how many eyewitnesses the New Testament records as having seen Christ risen from the dead?
00:15:28
Speaker
people are recorded as having seen Christ alive after he was crucified and raised from the dead. Now, these appearances were in 10 different places.
00:15:40
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Eight of the 10 appearances were group sightings where there were at least two, but sometimes more, For example, the 10 disciples saw him alive in a locked room.
00:15:53
Speaker
Thomas was not there and Judas was not there. But later, Thomas was there and Jesus appeared. He revealed and manifest himself again.
00:16:04
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So in that case, not 10 disciples saw him alive. 11 disciples saw him alive. And what they saw was him showing Thomas, who was doubting,
00:16:15
Speaker
so the the nail marks in his hands and the nail marks in his feet, the nail print in his side. There were seven who were fishing one day and they saw Jesus on the beach and they they recognized him and they swam toward the toward the beach and Jesus had ah roasted some fish over a fire there and they were able to eat together with Jesus. This was after his crucifixion.
00:16:43
Speaker
Two saw him on the road to Emmaus. They didn't know who he was at first. And then they invited him over for supper. They asked him to give the blessing for the food. And that's when they recognized it's him.
00:16:55
Speaker
It's the Lord. Peter saw him. His half brother James saw him. James would later become the pastor of the church in Jerusalem. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, verses six through seven, how over 500 people saw Jesus after he had been raised from the dead.
00:17:16
Speaker
They saw him at one time. All of them saw him together. So this was not just like someone's imagination, right? This wasn't just a dream or a vision.
00:17:27
Speaker
No, this was Christ, the bodily resurrection of Christ being manifested to all of these different groups in different locations.
00:17:38
Speaker
You know, also I saw in this passage in verses four through seven that Matthew and Mark and Luke, they each independently wrote that Jesus made three predictions of his suffering, his death, and his resurrection.
00:17:56
Speaker
Since we're reading the writing of Luke here in Acts, let's see what Luke recorded that Jesus said. If you were to go to Luke 9.22, he talked about his suffering, his death, but he also said after the third day, he would rise from the dead.
00:18:13
Speaker
That's Luke 9.22. In Luke 9.44 and 45, he talks about his suffering and his crucifixion. He knew that it was coming. The third time he made a prophecy about his suffering, his death and his resurrection is recorded in the gospel of Luke for us in Luke 18, verses 31 to 34.
00:18:36
Speaker
But it's amazing that Matthew, Mark and Luke, all three of them record three different prophecies or promises where the Lord says, I'm going to be um treated badly.
00:18:52
Speaker
I'm going to die on a cross. but I'm going to raise rise from the dead. So isn't that wonderful that the Lord gave them these promises or these prophecies?
Prophecies and Worldwide Testimonies
00:19:04
Speaker
But what's more astounding is, here it's like these prophecies and predictions that he made, Well, they're being fulfilled. The realization of relevant prophetic predictions.
00:19:18
Speaker
That's what I think is incredible. His death, burial, and resurrection, they were also prophesied 800 years before Jesus even came to this earth and was born ah as a baby in Bethlehem.
00:19:31
Speaker
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah He said in Isaiah chapter 53 that he's going to suffer, that he's going to die, that he's going to be buried, and he's going to be in the tomb of a rich man, and he's going to be raised. All of those things are like prophecies that were fulfilled.
00:19:54
Speaker
There's a man who did a lot of research on ah knowing what the Bible has said about Christ. His name was Dr. Josh McDowell. He claims that there are over 300 prophecies like those that I've mentioned already in Isaiah that were fulfilled by Jesus.
00:20:12
Speaker
with 17 of those 300 Old Testament prophecies referring specifically to Christ's resurrection. It was all God's plan. And it's like now God wants us to know, God wants us to see.
00:20:27
Speaker
You know, I remember at Easter time, and I think there's still some families who have this tradition, but we would hide Easter egg, you know, with our daughters. When we were missionaries in Japan, we would sometimes ah color the Easter eggs, and then we would hide them in the backyard. And then we had our oldest daughter, a Elisa, who was maybe, I don't know, let's say 10,
00:20:51
Speaker
So she would look for the eggs with her basket over on one side of the yard. On the other side of the yard was where our youngest daughter, Abby, would be. And let's say she would be, i don't know, five, six, seven years of age. And so we gave her a basket. But you know what we did for Abby, the younger one?
00:21:09
Speaker
we We made it where those eggs were were hidden, but they weren't hidden that hard. And so it was easy. You know why? Because we wanted her to have the joy of finding those eggs. We even wanted Elisa to have the joy of finding the eggs. So we didn't hide them like for a teenager or for adult. We hit we hid them in a way that, let's say, a 10-year-old or a 9-year-old could have found them.
00:21:39
Speaker
Well, That's kind of the same thing. You know, when you consider how God has, He's made all of these prophecies. He's given all of these proofs and here they are.
00:21:52
Speaker
And God says, I'm going to put them on a level where as a human being you can understand because our minds, they wrestle with this because we're we know for a fact no one ah is able to come back from the dead.
00:22:08
Speaker
Once they're dead, they're dead. that's the That's our human experience. That's what we know to be true, right? But remember, God created us. God is not bound by the same laws that we're bound by.
00:22:22
Speaker
And so God can do anything he wants to do. He can do miracles. And that's why when Jesus was here, he did things that no other human being was doing and no other human being had can do.
00:22:36
Speaker
And so he did these things so that we would know that there was something unique. There was something very special about Christ. And that's why the father, even though he died on the cross as a sinless man, as a substitutionary a person dying in our place to pay the price for the penalty of our sins.
00:22:59
Speaker
Well, even though he did that, The Father wants us to know He accepted Christ's death. He accepted the atonement for our sins. And that's why He raised Jesus from the dead. And how do we know it's true?
00:23:14
Speaker
Well, we know it's true because all of these people that are in the New Testament, they testified. It's not that we would believe. It's that the people back then believed.
00:23:25
Speaker
500 people saw him at that time. you know All of these people who lived back then, they went and checked the tomb and it was empty. They saw Christ alive.
00:23:36
Speaker
Sometimes they saw him like Peter, one-on-one. Or like ah James, Jesus's half-brother, he saw him one-on-one. But then sometimes there would be a group of ah men or maybe women who would see Christ alive, risen from the dead. There were 10 disciples, and then there were 11 disciples who would see him alive.
00:23:59
Speaker
You see what I'm trying to get at? What I'm trying to say is all of this evidence was placed there lovingly by our Father because He wants us to know the truth. He wants us to place our faith and our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so the last validation, if you will, that I think proves it is globally.
00:24:24
Speaker
There are disciples who are following Jesus Christ with their whole heart today, and they're all over the place. You know, just like in Acts chapter 1, verse 8, where he says, you're going to be witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
00:24:43
Speaker
Do you know that I've not just served as a local pastor here in Texas, but I've also gone on mission trips and I've served as a missionary. You know, the Lord allowed me to travel to other countries to share the gospel.
00:24:56
Speaker
And I saw people in Canada who had embraced the gospel, who believed that Jesus died for their sins. They believe that he died in their place. They believe that he rose from the dead. And so these people in Canada,
00:25:12
Speaker
These people in Japan, I was in Canada for six years and Japan for 12 years. And I saw Japanese like a chemist named Kimi.
00:25:23
Speaker
And I remember this chemist named Kimi in Japan. And he said, for me, the thing I could not intellectually wrap my brain around was the whole idea, the whole claim that Jesus had risen from the dead until I began to study the evidence. And I was there the day.
00:25:43
Speaker
that Kimmy stood before that group there in that small church plant, and he bore witness to Christ, to his death and his resurrection. and it was glorious for all of us. We saw him baptized because he said, I've studied the evidence myself, and now I'm convinced that he's alive.
00:26:05
Speaker
I've gone to places like Bangladesh and the Philippines where people live in such poverty. I've been to Thailand and it's amazing the joy that these people have.
00:26:18
Speaker
They celebrate, they worship, they exalt Christ. They love Him with tears in their eyes and they follow Him. For some of them that live in places where it's ah you know very rare for people to put their faith and trust in Christ,
00:26:35
Speaker
They're willing to say, you know what? I will suffer persecution, just like those back in the biblical times were willing to lay down their lives. You know, they say that the apostle Paul was beheaded.
00:26:48
Speaker
They say that Peter watched his own wife be crucified. And then when it came his turn, they said, we're going to crucify you. He said, I'm not worthy to be crucified right side up.
00:27:00
Speaker
Nope. since I'm so upside down, such a sinner saved by grace, just crucify me upside down. I'm telling you, all around the world, there are disciples who are professing their faith publicly that Jesus, He's alive. And what they're saying to the world, to a lost and confused, broken, dark world, they're saying, you know what?
00:27:26
Speaker
We saw Jesus change our life, and we want you to know that He can change your life. So friend, I hope that this has been helpful to you this Easter Sunday.
00:27:39
Speaker
I hope that you've been able to hear from God's Word that there's really things convincing proofs. There's so much. Some translations of the Bible even say there are many infallible proofs. And so I pray that you would know God's not wanting you to take some blind leap out in the dark.
00:28:01
Speaker
No, He's saying, I put the evidence down there where you can discover it, where you can know that it's true. So let's pray. And let me pray for you that God would continue to help you understand how Jesus, he is alive.
00:28:16
Speaker
Let's pray together. Oh, Heavenly Father, I thank you. You saw that we were broken. You saw that we were lost and confused. So many around the world, they turn to idols. They turn to stone or to something they've made from iron or from gold. And they worship that.
00:28:36
Speaker
But oh Lord, we know that you made us to worship you. So you sent your son and your son said, i will live a perfect life. I will tell the people the truth and I will live for the father perfectly. And you you gave your life on the cross to die and pay the penalty for our sins. You knew that we could not work our way into heaven. You knew that we needed somebody someone to reach across the table. And so Lord, you raised your son from the dead. They placed him in the tomb, but three days later, you raised him from the dead. And the reason was because you said, my son doesn't deserve death.
00:29:16
Speaker
My son deserves life. And so now he can give us eternal life. through his sacrifice. And so I thank you so much for my friends who are listening today. Please bless them. Please strengthen them, encourage them, comfort them with these wonderful truths about the resurrection of Christ. We know that you're the only way to the Father, that you are the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but through you.
00:29:44
Speaker
So help them to place their faith and trust in you this day. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Thank you so much for listening today. I pray that you have a very blessed Resurrection Sunday.
00:29:57
Speaker
Bye-bye.
00:30:02
Speaker
This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.