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| WERE THE WITNESSES
CREDIBLE? |
#105
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Today, we rely upon the testimony of witnesses for our
faith that Jesus was indeed “divine.” (John 20:31) As we read
about the amazing miracles and signs which Jesus performed; and
about the unparalleled teachings which He uttered; and about His
stunning resurrection from the dead, we find ourselves asking
about the credibility of those who wrote these accounts. If we
could only trust their report, we would be compelled to accept
that God actually “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
In a court of law, it is common to question the motive
behind the testimony of a witness. Does this person have
something to gain by the testimony? Might this person be
unstable or incompetent? Is this witness vengeful, or otherwise
hostile? Let us closely look at the people who introduced to the
world a Resurrected Savior.
In the first place, they were ordinary people. The apostles
chosen by Jesus represented a good cross-section of educational
and social levels. From simple fishermen to well-to-do tax
collector; from political activist to conservative lawyer, these
witnesses did not represent only one single class of Jewish
society. In addition to the apostles, thousands of other equally
ordinary people were also convinced about Jesus in the days
which shortly followed His death.
These early witnesses did not appear to be unstable, nor
did they seem to be some sort of maniacs. When Jesus was
arrested, it is recorded in Mark 14:50 that everyone “left Him
and fled.” The instinct for self preservation was strong. Yet, a
few days later, in Acts chapter 4, something had happened which
emboldened them to defy the very council which had crucified
Jesus. You know what it was that happened between Mark 14 and
Acts 4 . . . it was the resurrection of Christ. The same folks
who had “left Him and fled” were now testifying to angry
magistrates that “Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you
crucified,” they said, “God raised from the dead” (Acts 4:10).
They refused to withdraw this testimony, even under threat of
punishment, and they said, “We cannot stop speaking what we have
seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
Not only the apostles, but countless multitudes of early
Christians could not be stopped from telling about the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Even when they were
arrested or beaten or crucified or burned or thrown to the
lions, they held to their testimony. They knew what they had
seen. They were credible witnesses. They were there. They knew
that eternal life was in Christ Jesus. They suffered greatly so
that everyone could hear that God had been among us. They did
what they did because they honestly believed they had seen the
resurrected Christ.
They had nothing to gain by continuing in this story. They
did not profit from this testimony, but rather, they suffered.
Their testimony did not harm their oppressors, but rather, they
hoped it would save their oppressors. If their testimony was not
true, then they had no possible motive for its fabrication.
Simon Greenleaf, former Royal and Dane Professor of Law at
Harvard University, wrote a three volume Treatise on the Law of
Evidence. Concerning these witnesses he wrote, “According to the
laws of legal evidence used in courts of law, there is more
evidence for the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ than for just about any other event in history.”
Professor Thomas Arnold, Roman History Scholar at Oxford
University wrote concerning the resurrection of Jesus, “I know
of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by
better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding
of a fair inquirer . . .”
The witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus are reliable.
Their documents have been proven to be correct in countless,
verifiable details of historical record. Even modern historians,
like Arnold Toynbee, Will Durant, and H.G. Wells concur that the
historical person of Jesus and the reliability of New Testament
documents rest upon historical footing. They are reasonable and
accurate, and could not have been invented.
Was Jesus really “God in the Flesh”? These witnesses
certainly believed He was. Do you? When your faith rests upon
the testimony of these witnesses, you can be sure that your
faith is not a blind leap in the dark. Your faith rests solidly
on rational evidence in light of historical facts. The Teachings
of Jesus, His Resurrection, His Miracles, and Prophecies
fulfilled must all be considered; as well as the credibility of
His Witnesses. God has left us a trail of evidence which makes
the Deity of Jesus a reasonable proposition.
You know, it boggles the mind to think about God becoming
flesh. We cannot entertain that thought for long before we have
to ask, “Why?” Why did God become flesh? And that is the topic
of the next article in this series, "WHY DID GOD BECOME
FLESH?"
| Bible
Probe |
WERE THE
WITNESSES CREDIBLE? |
105
|
1. Is there any reason to doubt that the earliest disciples
of Jesus were ordinary, rational thinking people?
2. Do you believe that early Christians shared a collective
“Death Wish”? (Mark 14:50)
3. What do you think motivated the Lord’s apostles to challenge
the very power which had crucified Jesus? (Acts 4:8-20)
4. When you think about the intense persecution endured by early
Christians, does this thought enhance or diminish their
credibility in your eyes?
5. Do you think the early witnesses of Jesus really believed He
was the Son of God?
6. What did the apostles of Jesus gain by continually
maintaining the story they told?
7. Do you believe the testimony of these witnesses?
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Your Bible questions answered here.