Skip to main content

Evidence


 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’ ?  If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—  what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.  But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”  Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.(John 10:34-39)

          Have you seen the most recent ad with Jackie Chan? At least, I think it's the most recent. I don't recall seeing it before. I don't remember exactly what he's being used to sell - it's some sort of app that lets your cell phone verify your identity. Of course, in the ad, the hotel receptionist doesn't believe He's Jackie Chan based on his claim or his looks. He hands her is phone and starts doing things that are classic Jackie Chan moves (which she records.) In the end, she accepts his identity because of the app. It's cute.

         Jesus has been doing the same thing. He told people that He is the Son of God and they didn't believe Him. He performed miracles, and they still refused to believe Him. In fact, they decided to treat Him like an imposter and traitor. This is still a challenge for people today. I know some people who say that if God revealed Himself miraculously to them, that they would never doubt again. I've asked these people what sort of revelation would prove God's existence. More often than not, they come up with some bit of silliness.

         I have asked them what would happen one minute, or 1 hour, or 1 day after the manifestation requested stopped. Would they not decide that they had been dreaming, delusional, or the victim of a world class prank? Generally, they admit that they would.

       The reality is that God did exactly what they asked. He gave them a three year series of events culminating in Someone rising from the dead (and not later dying again.) This cannot be scientifically disproved because it is a historical event. The historical evidence includes testimony of at least 7 individuals who witnessed a living Jesus after the crucifixion. That testimony has been well-preserved with thousands of manuscripts, partial manuscripts and quotes that allow us to ascertain with a high degree of confidence what the original documents said. In addition, there is  the testimony of miracles and changed lives across history. Those who reject the evidence should not complain that it does not exist.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t