character, miracles, and fulfillment…

JESUS backed up HIS claims for who HE was by HIS unprecedented character. so many times when you get to know someone, better and better, you see their shortcomings more and more obviously.

but the opposite was true of JESUS CHRIST. as HIS followers spent more time with HIM, got to know HIM more, they increasingly marveled at HIS purity and HIS holiness and HIS integrity. in fact, nobody was closer to HIM than peter and john and listen to what they said after spending three years with HIM in close proximity. john said, in HIM is no sin.

can you imagine somebody living with you and getting to know you really well for three years, what would they say about whether or not you ever did anything wrong? and then peter said, HE committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth. so HIS unique character validates HIS claim to being the one and only way to GOD.

HE also validated HIS claim by performing miracles. JESUS challenged them. HE said in john 10.37 (niv), don't you even believe ME unless I do miracles of GOD. in other words, anyone can claim to be the SON of GOD but unless I do miracles supernaturally to show you, don’t even believe me. and HE did perform miraculous things. and they weren’t done in some dark room in the quiet with just a couple of people there. HE did them in broad daylight. HE did them in front of skeptics and cynics. as a matter of fact you can look in books of ancient history of people who are opponents of JESUS CHRIST in ancient jewish writing, in the koran of islam, they all admit that JESUS did the miraculous. so HIS ability to do the miraculous further validates HIS claims of who HE was.

but the most spectacular demonstration of HIS deity: JESUS CHRIST fulfilled HIS own prediction and three days after HE was put to death HE was resurrected from the dead. and HE was encountered by more than 500 eyewitnesses. who else but the SON of GOD could spend three days in a tomb and then come forward and establish that HE had returned to life. there is monumental amounts of evidence that shows the resurrection of JESUS is not just wishful thinking, not just a legend of history but it’s an actual historical event.

not long after JESUS was put to death and resurrected just weeks later in that very same city, peter told a big crowd, “JESUS of nazareth was a MAN whose divine mission was clearly shown to you by the miracles and wonders and signs which GOD did through HIM.” he said, “you yourselves know this because it took place right here among you.” those people looked at him and said, “we know you’re telling the truth. we knew JESUS too. we saw it. we know that that’s true. and we have put to death the MESSIAH.” and 3000 of them that day turned away from their sins and put their trust in JESUS CHRIST and the church was born.

CHRISTianity is not just a philosophy. it is a reality. JESUS didn’t just claim that HE’s the one and only way to GOD. HE validated HIS credentials and fully established HIS credibility.

just a thought from the front porch…